President pushes Lango to form team for cattle compensation talks

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President Yoweri Museveni has proposed a fresh strategy to resolve the long-delayed cattle compensation dispute in the Lango subregion by forming a select committee of trusted representatives to negotiate directly with government.

He made the proposal during a meeting with residents and leaders of the Lango sub-region at Lango College grounds on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

“I was recently in Soroti in the Teso subregion and heard the same concerns. I think the best way now is for you to select very reliable people who will represent you in Kampala so that we can conclude this matter once and for all,” he said.

The cattle compensation scheme was launched in 2022 with sh200 billion earmarked for victims in Acholi, Lango, and Teso whose livestock and property were destroyed during past insurgencies and conflicts. It has, however, faced accusations of mismanagement and corruption.  

President Museveni stressed that the initiative was not a standard government practice but rather an exceptional measure to foster peace and reconciliation.

“In most countries, compensation is not done for wars or natural disasters. In the 1979 war, Mbarara was destroyed, Masaka was flattened, and in Luwero we have 33 mass graves with over 330,000 people killed. If we were to compensate all those, how would we manage?” he asked.

President Museveni admitted that inflated claims and fraudulent practices had compromised the process. 

“That is why we insisted on direct payments. So far, sh169 billion has been spent. But we still need sh506 billion for verified claims and another sh275 billion for unverified ones – close to sh800 billion in total,” he noted. 

Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi revealed that since 2014, Lango had only received sh2.5 billion, with payments bouncing due to invalid accounts and duplicate claims.

Community leaders accused middlemen and lawyers of siphoning funds.

Angello Okello, one of the original petitioners in the compensation case, regretted taking the matter to court, saying: “The lawyers took advantage and stole money meant for the poor. We ask that you cancel the current process and find another way to rehabilitate the region."

Otuke resident Dennis Okwi revealed that the district alone had lost sh15 billion to intermediaries.

Dokolo resident district commissioner Barbara Akech, who reported that 53 beneficiaries had their payments bounce, urged the government to consider a household-based distribution or hand the programme to the Office of the Prime Minister.

The paramount chief of Lango, Eng. Dr Moses Odongo Okune welcomed President Museveni’s proposal but urged him to ensure a final resolution.

“The heads of families who lost cattle have, in many cases, passed away, leaving children and grandchildren still waiting,” he said.

Kole North MP Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, delivering a memorandum on behalf of Lango leaders, pressed for verified payments without age discrimination and a maximum of three instalments to ensure transparency.

“This matter touches the bone marrow of issues affecting Lango. We must settle it with certainty and finality,” he stressed.