President Museveni has said that former Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto, owes him a bull for insulting him.
The President made the remarks while addressing journalists from the Karamoja sub-region during a press conference at Morulinga State Lodge on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Museveni said Odonga Otto had thanked him for evicting the Balalo — a group of pastoralists accused of illegal grazing in northern Uganda.
“Odongo Otho thanked me for chasing the Balalo, yet he was thanking me for chasing my own people. Now he owes me a bull for insulting me,” Museveni said, drawing laughter from journalists and officials attending the briefing.
The President explained that the eviction of the Balalo was not based on ethnicity but rather on enforcing discipline and protecting local communities from exploitation.
He said some of the Balalo herdsmen had illegally occupied land in northern Uganda, refused to fence their grazing areas, and allowed their cattle to destroy people’s crops.
“The Balalo had gone against the principles of life and coexistence. They were grazing in people’s gardens, refusing to respect boundaries, and undermining community livelihoods,” Museveni said.
“That’s why I ordered their eviction — not because of tribe, but because of misconduct.”
He noted that while Uganda encourages free movement and resettlement of citizens across regions, it must be done within the law and in harmony with local communities.
“The NRM does not support tribalism. A Munyankole can stay in Acholi or Karamoja if he follows the rules. But when someone ignores local leadership and destroys people’s gardens, that’s indiscipline — and we shall not tolerate it,” he said.
Museveni added that in his 65 years of public life, he has never owed anyone a debt but has instead faced numerous personal attacks and betrayals.
“In my 65 years of struggle, I don’t have a debt with anybody. But many people have done me wrong — and I forgive them,” he remarked.
The President’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions on how to sustainably manage pastoralism and land use in northern and northeastern Uganda, following tensions between Balalo herdsmen and local communities over land ownership and grazing rights.
