President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called an urgent meeting with leaders from the Teso Sub-region to address the progress and challenges of the government’s cattle compensation programme, a flagship initiative aimed at restoring livelihoods lost during decades of insurgency and cattle rustling.
In a letter dated August 12, 2025, authored by Vice President Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo Rose Epel, the meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025, at Soroti University starting at 9:00 am.
The communication was addressed to all Members of Parliament from Teso, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), LCV Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers, District Executive Committee members of the NRM, District Councilors, and LCIII Chairpersons across the sub-region.
According to the Vice President, the President’s visit underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that the cattle compensation programme delivers on its objectives.
“As mentioned above, H. E. Y. K. Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, will visit Teso Sub-region for the said reason at the stated date. Let me appreciate your role and responsibility in working closely with Government in programmes that are geared towards poverty eradication in our country,” Alupo wrote.
The cattle compensation programme, launched by President Museveni on March 27, 2022, at Soroti University, is being implemented by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs across three sub-regions: Teso, Lango, and Acholi.
It aims to compensate households whose cattle were lost during the years of insecurity and cattle raids, with the goal of restoring their economic base and improving household incomes.
The Vice President noted that the programme stands alongside other government economic empowerment initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), and Emyooga, forming part of the administration’s broader strategy to combat poverty.
Friday’s meeting is expected to provide a platform for President Museveni to hear directly from local leaders about the successes registered so far, as well as the bottlenecks hindering full rollout of the compensation scheme.
“The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the success of the programme and adopt measures to accelerate its implementation,” the Vice President’s letter stated.
While the government has disbursed billions of shillings to eligible beneficiaries since the programme’s launch, concerns have been raised in various districts over delays in payment processing, verification disputes, and limited coverage in the first phases of compensation.
Leaders in the Teso Sub-region have in the past called for increased funding to ensure that all verified claimants are paid without further delay.
Cattle compensation remains a politically charged matter in the Teso Sub-region, where the loss of livestock in the 1980s and 1990s devastated the agrarian economy.
For many households, the promised payments are not just an economic boost but also a matter of justice and closure.
Political observers say the President’s decision to convene the meeting personally could be an indication of his desire to fast-track the programme ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The meeting also gives local leaders a rare opportunity to directly engage with the Head of State on development priorities for the region.
Sources within the Office of the Vice President have confirmed that the meeting will draw top government officials, technocrats from the Ministry of Justice, and representatives from agencies involved in livestock and agricultural development.
The presence of the President himself is expected to add urgency to the deliberations.
Alupo, who hails from Katakwi District in the heart of Teso, has been a key advocate for the region’s development agenda, often serving as a bridge between the President and local leadership.
Her coordination role in this meeting is seen as part of her continuing commitment to ensuring that the government delivers on promises made to the people of Teso.
The cattle compensation programme, if fully implemented, is expected to significantly revive livestock farming in Teso, restore household incomes, and bolster food security.
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