Uganda army says ejected CAR, Cameroon balaalo with 20,000 cattle from West Nile

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The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) have reportedly ejected 20,000 head of cattle belonging to Mbomboro tribesmen, nomadic pastoralists (balaalo) from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These cattle were illegally grazing in Uganda's West Nile region districts of Yumbe and Koboko.

These nomads were evicted under Presidential Executive Order No. 2 of 2025, which mandated the removal of all illegal Balaalo cattle keepers from northern Uganda.

Fourth Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori reports that the UPDF discovered Mbororo nomads grazing their cattle in South Sudan's central equatorial states. In the area abandoned by South Sudanese who are refugees in Uganda as a result of the ongoing conflict.

According to security, these nomads would occasionally cross into West Nile areas of Koboko and Yumbe, where the locals feared them as witches. And whenever the West Nile community learns about the Mbomboro people, who speak a dialect mixed with Arabic, the locals flee their homes in fear of being bewitched.

Following a month-long operation, Busizoori reports that they have evacuated 19,826 cattle from Northern Uganda, as well as 5,390 Dinka pastoralists from South Sudan.

According to the security report, the ejected Dinka nomads have returned to Uganda with their animals.

Busiziooi reveals that the UPDF has received several calls from the commissioner in South Sudan to welcome Dinka fleeing cattle raiders in their home country; however, he states that they will flush them back because it is their government's responsibility to keep them.

Operational challenges

The army on July 31, 2025, acknowledged that Operation Harmony faces several challenges, including poor road connectivity, impassable roads, a lack of trucks for herders to evacuate their impounded cattle, and political interference, among others.

They requested that the works ministry open roads in some of the unpaved areas so that they can help proportionally.

Furthermore, they warned the politician not to use a genocide attempt to plan their next move, claiming that Operation Harmony cannot be used for political gain.

According to Joseph Mwesige, the Northwest Nile regional Police commander, the Police are investigating some politicians over genocide attempt allegations.

Koboko Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Bitala said they would not extend the eviction deadline for balaalo.