President Museveni Endorses Uniform Cattle Restocking Plan for Teso Sub-Region

On September 17, 2025, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni endorsed a comprehensive report on cattle compensation for the Teso sub-region, praising its recommendations as realistic, inclusive, and transformative. This announcement was made during a high-level meeting at State House in Entebbe, attended by a select committee led by Vice President Jessica Alupo, along with Members of Parliament, cultural leaders, and religious figures from Teso.

The report was presented by Hon. Okiror Bosco, the MP for Usuk County. It followed extensive consultations across Teso, prompted by concerns about corruption and inefficiencies in the ongoing cattle compensation program. Launched in March 2022 with a budget of UGX 200 billion, the initiative aims to compensate victims in Teso, Lango, and Acholi for livestock and property lost during past insurgencies and cattle raids.

The consultations confirmed President Museveni’s proposal for a uniform restocking plan that will provide five cows per household across Teso’s 12 districts, which are home to approximately 489,000 households according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. Hon. Okiror noted an alternative proposal that allows households to receive the cash equivalent of five cows, estimated at UGX 1.5 million to UGX 2 million per cow, enabling them to purchase livestock independently, with management at the sub-county level.

President Museveni expressed his support for the plan, emphasizing its potential to empower households while addressing challenges such as polygamous families. “For me, I would be comfortable with each male-headed unit, whether polygamous or not, first getting their share,” he said. “Once the cows multiply, those families will become agents of change, and the cows can then be shared.” He added that affordability would be managed through installments, with extended families considered later.

The President clarified that the districts of Butebo and Pallisa, which had petitioned for inclusion, would be addressed separately.

During the meeting, Museveni responded to concerns about the presence of Balaalo herders in Teso. “They should go. I solved this problem long ago,” he stated, stressing that herders must follow legal procedures to ensure harmony with local communities.

Vice President Alupo commended the consultation process, noting its comprehensive and incident-free execution. “All the people of Teso unanimously supported the restocking program for every household,” she said, adding that residents viewed it as part of broader government efforts to eradicate poverty. Cultural leaders, including His Highness Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot of the Iteso and Won Ateker Papa Kumam Raphael Otaya of the Kumam, praised Museveni for involving traditional institutions in national development and pledged continued collaboration.

The cattle compensation program is not a standard government initiative but a special measure to promote peace, reconciliation, and economic recovery in war-affected regions. Museveni’s endorsement of the report signals a commitment to addressing past grievances transparently and equitably. He noted that the previous compensation framework was inefficient and exclusionary, and the new plan aims to rectify these shortcomings.

The President also referenced his recent engagements in August 2025 across Teso, Lango, and Acholi, where he urged residents to select trustworthy representatives to finalize a new compensation framework. At a gathering in Lira’s Lango College grounds, he emphasized the need for reliable representation to resolve lingering issues. “I was recently in Soroti and heard the same concerns,” he remarked, addressing widespread dissatisfaction with middlemen and corruption in the current system.

Museveni announced that the report would be discussed in Cabinet, with further consultations planned to incorporate perspectives from Lango and Acholi. The meeting, attended by Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka and other Teso leaders, underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring the program’s benefits reach all intended households fairly.

As Uganda moves forward with this transformative initiative, the uniform restocking plan promises to empower households in Teso, foster economic recovery, and strengthen community reconciliation in the region.