📷 Nandala promises compensation to Teso cattle raid victims

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Presidential aspirant Nandala Mafabi has promised to compensate victims of cattle raids in Teso region after being elected into power, pledging to settle the affected families within the first year of his five-year term.

Nandala, who is the Forum for Democratic Change flag-bearer, pledged during a campaign rally at Atutur trading centre, Atutur sub-county in Kumi district on Thursday and on Sunday (October 26, 2025) at Abalang trading centre, Ogwol sub-county in Kalaki district, while emphasising that the cattle raids had caused immense suffering and loss to local communities.

At Ongino and Onapa, Mafabi expressed pain over what he termed as the Government’s failure to compensate Teso families who lost their animals and other properties in insurgencies.

The Teso sub-region has been plagued by cattle raids for decades, with thousands of cattle stolen and many lives lost, with the raids often attributed to armed Karimojong warriors who have had a devastating impact on the local economy and community.

“The Government is buying time, telling you to make fresh registration and new committees for compensation, but all they want from you is your vote, and they go away,” he said.

When FDC party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat demonstrated over the issue with the community leaders, he was arrested and taken to Court, yet the victims never got their compensation, Nandala said.

“Make sure no cow, no vote. Do not accept lies. I will compensate you when I come to power within my first year of my five-year term in office,” he assured.

Government efforts

It should be noted that the Government in March 2022 rolled out a cattle compensation programme with a budget of shillings 200 billion. It was designed to compensate victims in Acholi, Lango, and Teso whose livestock and property were lost during past insurgencies and cattle raids.

President Museveni has consistently stressed that the initiative is not a standard government programme but an exceptional measure aimed at fostering peace, reconciliation, and economic recovery in the war-affected regions.

However, there has been widespread dissatisfaction with the current system, with residents and leaders arguing that it had been captured by middlemen and tainted by corruption.

To eliminate identified bottlenecks, Museveni identified a select committee led by Vice-President Jessica Alupo, including Members of Parliament, cultural leaders and religious figures who consulted widely across Teso following concerns about corruption and inefficiency in the ongoing cattle compensation programme. The committee has since presented its report to the President.

Pledge

But according to Nandala, such a committee was instituted to buy time until the election period ends in January 2026.

When you vote me, I will calculate what you have lost and give you all the money you lost in your flock, not peanuts that the government might give to a few of its agents amongst you, he promised.

“What I want to tell the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government is that we did not come in this election with hatred, but what we are reminding you is that what you have not done in 40 years can’t be done in the 5-year term you are asking Ugandans for votes because the country needs a total reset,” Nandala emphasised.

We shall give ‘seed capital’ to uplift small businesses

Nandala, who visited market stalls buying tomatoes, small fish ‘mukene’ and onions, promised to create a seed capital fund to support small-scale businesses to grow.

“As FDC, we shall create the starting capital for youth and women who want to do microbusinesses to earn a living for their families,” he promised.

Nobody will tax your small businesses in infancy until they reach the take-off stage, he assured.

“I shall also give support to the youth who can ride boda-boda with an affordable loan of shillings two million per motorcycle to keep paying only shillings 400,000 per year until the loan is settled,” Nandala stated.

Do not sell your vote 

Nandala also blamed the voters for accepting to be bought with shillings 1,000 per vote, claiming that this habit has been pushing them to select selfish and poor leaders.

“Your vote is a right for several things, and selling it for shillings 1,000 is acceptable to sell your future at a time when the government needs patriotic citizens who love their country,” he warned.

Enjoy your Parish Development Model (PDM) money to compensate for the loss of disservice you have subjected to for the last 40 years, he advised.

“All hospitals are going to be equipped, and all regional referral hospitals shall be elevated to national hospital status with district referrals elevated to regional referral hospital status,” he elaborated.