By Nathan Eyagu

Soroti — Frustrated by slow and uneven payouts, leaders from the Teso sub-region have convened at Soroti University to demand urgent action from the government on the long-standing cattle compensation programme.

They are calling for full transparency, faster processing, and fair valuation of claims, saying the current disbursements are too small to restore livelihoods devastated by decades of cattle raids and conflict.

The high-level meeting drew Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, resident district commissioners, and cultural and religious leaders, and comes amid mounting criticism of how the scheme—launched by President Yoweri Museveni at Soroti University on March 27, 2022—has been managed.

Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs data shows Teso has so far received about Shs 5.5 billion, out of the Shs 135 billion reportedly paid to Teso, Lango, and Acholi since 2022. Local leaders dispute these figures, arguing that few recipients can be identified on the ground.

Although government maintains that payments are being made in phases, with Vice President Jessica Alupo recently announcing an additional Shs 80 billion for the current financial year, Teso elders say only a fraction of claimants have received anything—and that the sums fall far short of the value of cattle lost.

Allegations of undervaluation and selective payouts have persisted for years, with some districts reporting only a handful of beneficiaries. In October 2023, the High Court ordered government to compensate more than 3,000 Teso war claimants—Shs 20 million per adult and Shs 10 million per child, plus damages—but lawmakers say there has been little visible progress.

At the Soroti meeting, leaders renewed calls for a transparent register of beneficiaries and clear criteria for upcoming payments. Presidential mobiliser Teddy Acham said the forum would help present the region’s concerns directly to the head of state and expose cases where the programme has been exploited.

As the gathering awaited President Museveni’s arrival, anticipation grew across Teso. Residents hope that this time, the long-promised compensation will be delivered in a way that is fair, adequate, and timely.