Mp Joan Alobo Acom being whisked by Police
Soroti County MP Patrick Aeku has called on the Ugandan government to provide a comprehensive report on the ongoing cattle compensation process, saying the lack of transparency is fueling opposition narratives in Teso.
Speaking during Thursday’s parliamentary session, MP Aeku urged the government to disclose the list of compensated individuals and the amounts paid, so that ruling party MPs can counter opposition claims that the government has abandoned Teso war victims.
“This is a matter that has been in court, and rulings have been made in favor of the victims. The executive has blessed the compensation, and parliament has budgeted for it,” Aeku said.
He emphasized that for over 30 years, government has promised to compensate people in Teso who lost cattle and other property during the insurgencies of the 1980s and 1990s.
“I have grown up hearing about cattle compensation. It has been over three decades. Let us put this matter to rest,” Aeku urged.
Aeku made two specific demands to the government; a clear list of beneficiaries, including the names of those who have been compensated and how much they have received and if the compensation is incomplete, parliament should allocate more funds to ensure all victims are paid.
“If people have already been paid, let us be given the evidence so we can inform our constituents. If they have not been paid, then we must allocate money and compensate them fully,” he added.
In response, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, acknowledged that the government had initiated the compensation process, but confirmed that payments were being made in phases.
“I want to thank Hon. Aeku for raising this issue. The fact is, the government decided to pay cattle compensation in a phased manner. Some people have already been compensated across different sub-regions,” Nabbanja stated.
She assured parliament that she would direct the Attorney General to compile a detailed report on the compensation process, including: A breakdown of beneficiaries, The amount of money disbursed so far and The remaining budget required.
“I will ensure that the Attorney General presents a comprehensive report on who has been paid, how much, and in which sub-regions,” Nabbanja promised.
MP Aeku’s demand comes amid growing frustration within the Teso sub-region, where opposition leaders have launched the “No Cow, No Vote” campaign, accusing the government of deliberately delaying compensation.
Several Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leaders, including Party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and MPs Joan Alobo and Jonathan Ebwalu, were arrested this week while protesting against the slow and selective compensation process.
Teso NRM MPs are now under pressure to prove that the government is honoring its promises before the 2026 general elections, as opposition politicians continue to mobilize support around the compensation issue.
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