By Alan Clement
The pastoralists recently evicted from Uganda have called on the South Sudan government to facilitate their movement to their states.
Recently, cattle herders from South Sudan were evicted from the Atiak subcounty in Amuru District in Northern Uganda.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the cattle herders got stranded and temporarily settled in the Mugali area in Magwi County.
With hope to return to their states, Captain Deng Leek, a representative of the cattle herders, confirmed their eviction from Uganda and expressed concern about their current situation.
“We are under pressure from the state authorities of Eastern Equatoria to leave this place,” he added.
While the herders expressed their willingness to comply with the county demand to leave, they have appealed for government support to facilitate their departure.
“We need security and transport if we are to leave safely,” Deng said.
He called on the government to facilitate their movement to their state.
On his part, the Commissioner of Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State, Polepole Benjamin Olum, called for government intervention in order to avoid conflict between the cattle herders and the residents.
He added that the residents have stated their position in regard to cattle herders in the area.
“Our community has made it clear; they will not host the cattle herders again,” Commissioner Olum said.
“Their cattle destroy crops, and when the community demands compensation, the herders, often armed, react in a hostile manner,” he added.
Commissioner Olum said multiple meetings have been held with the herders, including on July 12th and July 18th, where the herders were reminded of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in April 2025.
The MoU, agreed upon by leaders from Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Jonglei, and Greater Pibor Administrative Area, decreed the immediate return of all cattle herders in Greater Equatoria to Jonglei State in consonance with the presidential directives of 2015 and 2017 regarding the evacuation of cattle from the Greater Equatoria region.
“The state has reiterated its commitment to uphold the MoU, but we need national-level support,” Olum said.
“This delay increases fear within the community. Even government forces stationed in Mugali have raised complaints about the cattle herders who have occupied areas that are closely proximal to farmland set aside for them by the state,” Olum emphasized.
Magwi County experienced deadly clashes in 2022 and also recently in January 2025, which led to loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread displacement.