By Delux Emmy Alomu
SOROTI
Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Dr. Kenneth Clement Ongalo Obote, has called upon government to take a measured approach with the significant Shs8 trillion initiative aimed at restocking the 33 districts of Teso, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions. This program is set to unfold over the next seven to ten years.
For the current financial year, which concludes on June 30th, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has allocated Shs80 billion to support 1,606,210 households across these areas.
Specifically, the financial breakdown indicates that in the Teso sub-region, 5,137 households out of 515,690 will receive Shs25.6 billion.
In Lango, 5,919 households from a total of 594,180 will benefit from Shs29.5 billion, while in Acholi, 4,944 out of 496,340 households will be allotted Shs 24.7 billion.
According to the current OPM guidelines, all funds for this financial year will be dedicated to livestock procurement. The program aims to distribute five animals—three cows and two oxen—among selected beneficiaries, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, widows and widowers, orphans, former rebels, former abductees, female-headed households, and unemployed youth.
To qualify, households must meet specific criteria: they must demonstrate involvement in farming or animal husbandry, provide proof of essential resources such as land and labor, and must not have benefited from other government programs like NAADs, PDM, or Emyooga.
Nobert Kasirabo, the Assistant Commissioner Programs in OPM who represented Alex Kakooza, the permanent secretary shared these details during a performance review meeting with local government leaders from Teso, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister through the Teso Affairs Ministry at Akello Hotel in Soroti City on April 29, 2026.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ongalo noted that while the program is set to launch soon, clarity in the guidelines remains a concern.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive understanding of the distribution strategy, particularly regarding the provision of cash equivalent to five cows rather than direct animal procurement, as has been discussed in various forums.
“We will have one final meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday. It is essential that the guidelines specify responsibilities, ensuring clear leadership within the district, either from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or the Resident District Commissioner (RDC). The RDC should take the lead; otherwise, politicians may prioritize their agendas with an eye on the 2031 elections,” he remarked.
Dr. Ongalo also mentioned that political pressures previously led to a hasty rollout of the program, which compromised its effectiveness.
He reported that beneficiary identification was paused last December and January because many districts relied on a single list of beneficiaries from the Ministry of Justice, primarily targeting individuals involved in legal proceedings. In contrast, this program is intended to assist every eligible household.
According to the minister, the restocking program should not be seen as a last-minute attempt to garner votes. He emphasized that it must be rolled out thoughtfully, rather than rushed, with the outcomes shaped by the beneficiaries themselves.
The minister explained that households which have already received payments through the Ministry of Justice system will not receive additional funds. However, those who obtained less than shs5m will be compensated for the difference.
He emphasized that it’s preferable to provide every household with cash equivalent to the value of five cows. This approach recognizes that while some individuals reside in urban areas, others may lack grazing land. The cash can be utilized in various ways, but it’s important to educate them on how to effectively use these funds.
He highlighted that this is a multi-trillion-shilling initiative and should be executed meticulously to ensure every household can benefit. The goal, he stressed, is to avoid future discussions about the restocking program, making its success pivotal.
He expressed the need for comprehensive planning to seal off any potential loopholes and establish safeguards to protect the program from any mismanagement.
“If this isn’t handled correctly, the sacrifices made—including lives lost and cattle taken—will be in vain. It’s essential that the implementation is done right,” he remarked.
Moses Emabu, the LCV Chairperson for Amuria District, voiced his frustrations regarding the unclear guidelines of the restocking initiative, particularly concerning the criteria for selecting beneficiaries.
He argued that the government appears to be giving the impression that the program is underway while in reality, it could lead to biased decisions from the selection committee. This, he fears, will prolong the process before every household can benefit.
Emabu proposed that a distinct committee, made up of religious leaders, cultural representatives, and members from various interest groups, including both men and women, should lead this restocking effort instead of relying solely on the district technical team.
According to the Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, 11,056 people had been paid in the Teso sub region to a tune of shs65.9b in the previous compensation arrangements. Acholi had been paid shs43.6b to 4,836 people, while Lango, they had paid Shs48.7b to 12,389 people.
Despite all these payments, it was not visible on the ground since even leaders were unable to tell who received the money.
It’s against that background that the President in August 2025 ordered that everyone be paid a flat rate of five cows under this program he called the rehabilitation and restocking program.
This restocking program is set to be implemented across 33 local governments in the Teso, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions.
Its main objectives are to enhance the economic well-being of households and to foster social mobilization aimed at development, peacebuilding, and reconciliation.
Ultimately, the program aims to boost household incomes and regenerate the dwindling livestock populations in these areas.
The 2021 National Livestock Census in Uganda indicated a livestock population of 14.5 million cattle, 17.8 million goats, over 4 million sheep, 60 million poultry, and several million pigs.
According to UBOS Statistics, it’s estimated there are around 2.1 million cattle in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso regions, specifically 833,000 in Acholi, 784,000 in Lango, and 1,184,000 in Teso.
