Butebo, Pallisa elders petition VP Alupo over exclusion from rehabilitation programme

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Elders from Butebo and Pallisa districts have petitioned the Vice President Jessica Alupo over their exclusion from the newly launched rehabilitation programme in Teso sub-region initiated by President Yoweri Museveni.

On August 15 this year, President Museveni met Teso leaders to address the long-standing issue of compensation for property lost during the insurgency.

At the meeting, the President directed that a rehabilitation programme, rather than compensation, should be designed, arguing that wartime losses are not compensated. Instead, he proposed that every household should benefit, with each to receive five cows.

Vice President Jessica Alupo sharing a light moment with some of the Teso MPs Alfred Edakasi from Kaberamido left together with Fred Opolot Pingire who is holding the district chairman Stephen Ochola. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

However, residents of Butebo and Pallisa say they have been excluded from the programme. This prompted a delegation of 32 elders, led by the NRM Elders League chairperson for Pallisa, Nicholas Osako, to petition the Vice President.

“We are concerned that we are left out of this good program, yet we are also Iteso who suffered losses during the insurgency. Why are they considering only 11 districts and leaving us out?” Osako said.

He added that historically, the government has recognised Pallisa and Butebo as part of Teso.

“Emorimor, our paramount chief, has ministers coming from Pallisa. We have been participating in all Teso activities as Iteso, but now, when it is payment of cows, then we are left out as foreigners,” Osako said.

Alupo, who is currently camped in Soroti city with her committee meeting religious, cultural, political, and community leaders, as well as elders and youth, accepted the petition.

“I will forward this petition to President Museveni, who appointed me to lead this committee for guidance on the way forward,” Alupo said.

She also revealed that she has received complaints from Teso communities in Bugisu and Busoga districts expressing interest in being included.

Alupo, who was given a one-month deadline to present her report to the President, promised to hand it over by September 15.

In her consultations across Teso, communities welcomed the proposal of five cows per household but expressed a preference for cash instead.

While meeting Teso MPs, the value of a cow was set at sh2m, meaning each household would receive sh10m if the President approves.

“Sh2m can facilitate a person to buy a big cow that will take a short time to deliver a calf, and we want the President to honour that request,” said Stella Apolot Isodo, the Woman MP for Ngora district.

Opposition leaders in Teso sub-region pose for a picture with Vice President Jessica Alupo and her committee members. (Photo by Godfrey Ojore)

Opposition leaders in Teso, who met the committee on September 12, 2025, demanded that the payments be made before January 12, 2026. 

“Without the payment of people before the elections, let the president know that there will be no votes for him. No cow, no vote is what we are telling the people,” opposition leaders said in their resolution.

Alupo is also scheduled to meet elders who successfully sued the government for compensation in 2018, though payment has not been made since the ruling.

She noted that once her report is presented, the committee will wait for feedback from the President on the next steps regarding payments to the Iteso.

Expectations remain high across the Teso community.