Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament Joan Alobo Acom has appealed to the Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach, to intensify prayers for Uganda as the country moves towards the 2026 general elections.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Centenary Celebrations of Agora Catholic Church in Soroti City, Alobo noted that the 2026 elections will be “a total test” for Uganda’s democracy, justice, and governance.
She said the Church, as a moral authority, has a vital role in guiding the nation through prayer, especially at a time when communities feel marginalized.
“We need the Catholic Church in Teso, under Bishop Eciru, to keep Uganda in prayer as we approach 2026. The voice of the Church is very critical in uniting and guiding the country,” Alobo said.
The MP, who has spent much of her first term fighting what she describes as injustices against ordinary people, also criticized President Yoweri Museveni’s recent directive to scrap the cattle compensation program for war-affected regions in favor of a Restocking and Rehabilitation plan.
Museveni, while meeting leaders from Teso at Soroti University on Friday, said government resources would no longer be used for direct compensation of cattle lost during insurgencies. Instead, funds would be redirected towards restocking and rehabilitation.
In his address, the President stated: “The money which was being spent on compensation will now go to rehabilitation and restocking. If we take one cow per household, that means about 169,000 homesteads can benefit. If we give two cows, then about 80,000 households can benefit. The plan is to provide at least five cows per family and later move towards broader rehabilitation so that everyone benefits equally. Direct compensation is not sustainable, and government must focus on programs that lift communities as a whole.”
However, Alobo rejected this approach, saying it undermines justice for people in Teso and other cattle corridor regions who lost thousands of animals during insurgencies.
She insisted that the people must continue with the “NO COW, NO VOTE” campaign as a political tool to demand accountability.
“Our people were robbed of their livelihood. Now government wants to brush it aside by giving just one or two cows per home. That is not justice. We must continue with the NO COW, NO VOTE campaign until our people get the compensation they deserve,” Alobo said.
The NO COW, NO VOTE slogan has in recent months gained traction across Teso, symbolizing the community’s frustration over government delays in addressing cattle compensation claims.
The campaign urges citizens not to support leaders who fail to prioritize compensation for cattle lost during past insurgencies and cattle rustling.
Alobo, one of the most vocal advocates of the movement, emphasized that the protests should not fade away simply because of Museveni’s announcement.
“The people of Teso must remain firm. We cannot be silenced. Our struggle is not just about cows, but about dignity, justice, and respect for our rights as citizens,” she stressed.
In her appeal to Bishop Eciru, Alobo noted that beyond political activism, prayer and spiritual guidance are key for Teso and Uganda at large.
She argued that the Church has historically been instrumental in peacebuilding and reconciliation and must not shy away from calling out injustice.
“As leaders, we may talk politics, but the Church provides moral direction. We need Bishop Eciru and the Catholic Church to continue interceding for our nation, especially now when political temperatures are rising ahead of 2026,” she said.
Several locals who attended the Agora Catholic Church centenary celebrations echoed Alobo’s sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction with government’s shift from compensation to restocking.
“Restocking is like giving a bandage to a deep wound. What we want is proper compensation for what we lost,” said Peter Ocen, a farmer from Soroti District.
Others called for unity among Iteso leaders, warning that divisions could weaken their bargaining power in national politics.
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