By KT Reporter
There are mixed feelings in Teso over the proposed cattle restocking program, amid concerns that its implementation is being linked to political positions held by leaders in the region. This follows remarks by Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM Director of Communications, linking the realisation of the program to the retention of key political positions held by leaders from the region.
Speaking to our reporter in Soroti on Tuesday, Dombo said the Iteso should pray for senior government officials from the region to retain their positions if the long-awaited cattle restocking programme is to be implemented. Dombo cited the positions of Speaker of Parliament and Vice President—both currently associated with leaders from Teso—as strategically important in pushing the programme through government structures.
“The first thing is that we have a Speaker of Parliament coming from Teso, although her term has expired, and we also have a Vice President from Teso,” Dombo said. “If the two retain their positions, these are strategic offices which can be supported by ministers and Members of Parliament to pursue this government programme.”
He noted that both offices are not guaranteed, describing the Speaker’s position as elective and the Vice President’s role as dependent on presidential appointment. “That is why I say we pray harder,” Dombo said, adding that prayer was necessary given the uncertainty surrounding both positions.
Asked what would happen if the two leaders fail to retain their offices, Dombo said the people of Teso should instead rely on their Members of Parliament to pursue the restocking pledge made by the NRM government. He revealed that preparations were underway to convene newly elected MPs at Kyankwanzi, where party leaders will discuss the implementation of manifesto commitments, including cattle restocking.
“This is a strategic engagement,” Dombo said, urging NRM and NRM-leaning independent MPs to attend the meeting to align on priorities ahead of the next Parliament. Dombo also pointed to the ongoing Budget Framework Paper discussions in Parliament, expressing hope that the restocking programme would be captured and timelines communicated to the public once approved.
However, Dombo’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions, particularly from cultural leaders and governance advocates in Teso, who argue that development programmes should not be tied to the political survival of individual office holders. Stephen Ojacor, the Information Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union, said the people of Teso do not determine who becomes Speaker of Parliament or Vice President, noting that such decisions are made within political parties and Parliament.
He stressed that cattle restocking is a cultural, economic, and livelihood issue for the Iteso and should not be reduced to partisan politics. “The issue of cows should not be mixed with politics,” Ojacor said. “Linking cattle restocking to positions like Vice President or Speaker only makes us a laughingstock.”
The Iteso Cultural Union called on the government to treat cattle restocking as a national development obligation and to engage the people of Teso with dignity, clarity, and respect. Similarly, Benson Ekuwe, Executive Director of Public Affairs Centre–Uganda, argued that development should be driven by institutions and organized citizen pressure rather than individual political offices.
“Development in Teso should not be tied to political positions held by particular individuals,” Ekuwe said, adding that citizens should demand concrete policies rather than relying on prayers or the political survival of specific leaders. “For me, I don’t think there will be any missed opportunity if the Iteso lose key positions. What matters is building a strong pressure group around issues,” he said.
The proposed cattle restocking has remained a major campaign issue in the Teso sub-region. Both the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC presidential candidate, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and his National Unity Platform-NUP counterpart, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also promised to restock Teso once elected into office. They accused the ruling government of making empty promises to the people of Teso. Kyagulanyi even went ahead and signed an MoU with some leaders in Teso, guaranteeing the compensation of their cattle once elected into office.
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