Teso elders, CSOs urge Museveni to use local structures in cattle restocking plan

By Emmanuel Okol

Soroti, Uganda: Elders and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Teso sub-region have urged President Museveni to rely on existing local government structures in implementing the cattle restocking and rehabilitation programme.

The call was made on Thursday, September 11, 2025, during a consultative meeting with the cattle rehabilitation committee led by Vice President Rtd Maj Jessica Alupo in Soroti.

The elders said tapping into established frameworks such as LCIs, parish chiefs and sub-county chiefs would ensure transparency and help the initiative reach genuine beneficiaries.

Willy Bisanga, an elder and former NRM chairperson for Soroti, welcomed the programme but called for proper strategies to guarantee impact. “As elders of Teso, we’re ready to champion the presidential initiative to ensure the programme reaches the intended people,” he said.

Civil society leaders also pledged support but demanded inclusion in the monitoring process. Ben Boharm Okiror, project coordinator for FAFO, said CSOs should be allowed to follow up on implementation to prevent misuse. He proposed that all information about cattle distribution be shared publicly through radios, television and social media.

Benson Ekue, CEO of the Public Accounts Committee, raised concerns over the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, especially vulnerable groups such as orphans and persons with disabilities. He warned leaders against politicising the initiative and instead called for sensitisation campaigns to improve community awareness.

In response, Vice President Alupo commended the CSOs for embracing the presidential programme and reaffirmed government’s commitment to both cattle restocking and environmental conservation. She reiterated Cabinet’s decision to stop the establishment of factories in wetlands and urged communities to take responsibility for restoring degraded ecosystems.

Alupo further revealed that government is finalising plans to launch an anti-tick vaccine to eliminate counterfeit products affecting livestock and crops.

“This programme will lead to value addition in beef, milk, hides, skins and bones, boosting production in the region,” she said, adding that government is also prioritising infrastructure development in roads, airports, railways and water to facilitate exports.