By Emmanuel Olinga
SOROTI CITY
The Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo, also leading the Presidential initiative of general cattle restocking in Teso Sub Region has warned that there is no registration of beneficiaries yet.
Yet speaking at a Consultative meeting with Opposition Leaders in Teso on Friday, September 12, 2025, H.E Alupo said, her committee has not started any process of registration.
“We are still holding meetings on collecting views from various categories towards their perception towards the presidential initiative,” Alupo said. She asks the community to desist from individuals who have started registering people for the benefit of cows.
She was responding to concerns raised by Opposition MPs who said there was a group of people moving around and charging locals between Shs2000 to Shs15,000.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity for development, opposition leaders and MPs across Teso sub-region have assured total support for President Museveni’s initiative of cattle restocking and rehabilitation programmes in the region.
The opposition said tapping into established frameworks such as Clan leaders, LCIs, parish chiefs and sub-county chiefs including other leadership would ensure transparency and help the initiative reach genuine beneficiaries.
Opposition also pledged support towards the presidential initiative but demanded inclusion in the monitoring and evaluation process.
Carlos Peter Ebiau, member of Democratic Front party, said opposition should be allowed to follow up on implementation to prevent partialism in the progress.
“We’re requesting the government to kick off the process of cow restocking and rehabilitation before 2026 Jan 12, we shall mobilise the masses on supporting NRM, if not NO COW NO VOTE move will continue” , the Opposition said.
George Okoit NUP leader Teso sub region, urge government to allow opposition to form it’s committee who will cooperate with government one.
On other hand, MPs led by Hon Alfred Edakasi said as Teso MPs we all support the presidential initiative and appealed to the Members of Parliament to start sensitizing the masses on the road to the programme.
However, MPs cautioned other leaders against politicising the initiative and instead called for a sensitization campaign to create community awareness on the move of eradicating poverty.
“We’ve been engaging the community members on the ongoing registration by some individuals who also take the vein of charging money if one is to be registered” MPs said.
Stella Isodo, woman MP Ngora district and member of FDC showed her readiness towards the cow restocking program and assured support on promoting government programmes for the good of people in the region.
Christine Apolot, a woman MP in Kumi district, said the government should come-up with good strategies for selecting beneficiaries in the community.
In response, Vice President Alupo commended MPs and opposition for embracing the presidential programme and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cow restocking and rehabilitation.
She reiterated that MPs and opposition’s decision to presidential initiative is a proper gesture toward the unity and development of the Teso sub region.
Alupo urges the opposition to stop politicizing the presidential initiative of cow restocking and rehabilitation but join hands together mobilizing for the good of Teso.
She added that the government is also prioritizing infrastructure development in roads, airports, railways and water to facilitate exports.
