Leader of Balaalo in Buliisa Remanded for Gun Possession

Grace Bororoza, the leader of the nomadic pastoralists in Buliisa district, has today been sent to jail for illegal possession of a firearm.

Bororoza first made the news by leading the cause of the pastoralists, who are commonly known as Balaalo, when they faced violent opposition to their plans to settle in Buliisa. She is a strong debater, regularly championing the cause of land acquisition and free movement of all people of Uganda.

The arms possession charge against Bororoza stems from a January 14th incident, when it is alleged that she and other suspects who are still at large, were found in possession of an AK47 rifle.

The gun was discovered at the height of tensions between the Balaalo and the Bagungu, the tribe native to Buliisa district. According to police investigations, The Balaalo attempted to frame a Mugungu man by placing the gun in his house.

Appearing at the Hoima Grade One Magistrates Court this afternoon, a confident-looking Bororoza was charged with possessing an illegal fire arm. She flatly denied the charges and was remanded to prison until November 13th by Magistrate Olo Opondo.

Several Balaalo who escorted Bororoza to court were shocked by the outcome of the proceedings and several of them rushed out of the room immediately to make several phone calls seeking intervention.

Elsewhere in Western Uganda, the area regional police commander, Martin Amoru, has ordered all pastoralists who settled in Kyangwali sub county, Hoima district to leave immediately. His order follows a court ruling by the High Court in Kampala granting the request of residents of Kyangwali to evict the pastoralists.