🔊 VP Alupo launches marathon consultations on cattle distribution in Teso

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The Teso Rehabilitation Committee, led by Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, has begun an eleven-day engagement with stakeholders on plans to fairly distribute cattle to households across the Teso sub-region. 

This initiative follows a recent directive from President Yoweri Museveni, who noted that several Teso leaders were dissatisfied with the existing cattle compensation programme, which appeared to benefit only a select few.

The President recommended that the remaining sh169 billion allocated for the programme should be shared fairly among all households in Teso rather than being concentrated among a small group of claimants.

To ensure fair distribution, he proposed the creation of a committee including elders, youth, women leaders, and other representatives to oversee the allocation of resources.

In line with this directive, Vice President Alupo, on September 2, 2025, introduced her ten-member committee. It comprises MPs, the Attorney General, LC5 chairpersons, RDCs, religious and cultural leaders, and other opinion leaders tasked with guiding the consultation process.

Having identified key stakeholders for engagement, the committee has set up base at Eneku village in Soroti city. 

On Thursday, September 4, they began discussions with security personnel, including police commanders, RDCs, Operation Wealth Creation coordinators, District Intelligence Security Officers (DISOs), and UPDF commanders.

In her opening remarks, the Vice President underlined the importance of staying connected with the community and addressing ongoing concerns related to cattle compensation and rehabilitation, as directed by the President.

Alupo further stressed that this matter is the last major issue the Iteso community wants resolved, particularly after government interventions on internally displaced people’s camps and the establishment of Soroti Public University.

The consultations, which are scheduled to conclude on September 14, will involve a broad range of participants. 

These include Teso MPs, LC5 district chairpersons and councillors, NRM district chairpersons, chief administrative officers, district veterinary officers, LC3 chairpersons, and leaders of the Iteso and Kumam cultural institutions.

Religious leaders of all denominations, petitioners and their lawyers, as well as representatives of special interest groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, veterans, entrepreneurs at district level, boda boda leaders, and four opinion leaders from each county will also take part.

On September 15, 2025, the committee will prepare a report to be presented to the President on September 16, with the aim of guiding decisions on the rehabilitation programme across the sub-region.