By Our Reporter
TESO
Government is set to invest shs80 billion to begin the restocking of five cows per household in the Teso, Lango, and Acholi subregions for the financial year 2026/2027. This initiative comes in response to the significant livestock losses experienced during the prolonged conflicts and insurgencies over the past thirty years.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, also the elected woman MP for Katakwi district, made this announcement during a press conference in her hometown of Katakwi on Friday evening, 26th December, 2025.
In her update on the program, Alupo noted that the Shs80 billion will be distributed across Teso, Acholi, and Lango to fulfill the commitment of providing five cows per household in these regions.
She explained that a directive has already been sent to all Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in the areas to begin identifying beneficiaries for the cows.
“More resources will be allocated for the ongoing implementation of this program in the coming years,” she stated.
Alupo encouraged the community to engage with their CAOs through local leaders for more details on how each district plans to roll out the program.
She further advised candidates in the elections to prioritize unity, urging them to accept diverse ideas as essential for advancing the aspirations of the people in Teso.
The Vice President expressed hope for peaceful and fair elections, encouraging all candidates to feel free to connect with their constituents.
In her remarks, she underscored the importance of the upcoming year being marked by peace, unity, cooperation, and cohesion, while urging the community to avoid divisive rhetoric that might stir conflict.
Background:
During a meeting with Teso leaders on August 15, President Museveni proposed the abolition of the existing Teso cattle compensation program, which has primarily benefited a limited number of individuals.
He suggested replacing it with a cattle rehabilitation initiative aimed at providing every household in the region with two to five cows.
This recommendation responded to widespread dissatisfaction among Teso leaders regarding the previous compensation program.
On that occasion, the President appointed Vice President Jessica Alupo to oversee the formation of a committee tasked with consulting various stakeholders in Teso about this new proposal.
The idea received strong support from the leaders present, prompting the President to direct that a report be submitted to his office within a month to chart the best course of action.
To carry out the President’s directive, the ten-member committee, announced by Vice President Alupo on September 2, began an eleven-day series of consultations with over 13 different stakeholders from September 4 to September 14.
A final report was compiled by the committee on September 15 and submitted to the president on September 17 around midday. Now the process of implementation will kick off next financial year.
