Agency
Local leaders in Kitgum District are urging livestock farmers to keep their animals in communal kraals as the government prepares to roll out a new cattle restocking programme targeting vulnerable households.
The directive, first issued in 2022, followed a surge in cattle raids reported from December 2021 in Orom, Orom East, and Kiteny sub-counties.
With the restocking programme now set to begin, both leaders and community members fear the raids could escalate.
Francis Omona, the Animal Husbandry Officer in the Office of the District Veterinary Officer, said communal kraals remain the most practical measure to protect livestock from theft.
Walter Komakech Oyoo, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kitgum, said the government cannot provide security for animals kept in individual homes, making communal kraals a necessary compromise.
A total of 386 households in Kitgum District are expected to benefit from the restocking programme, which aims to rebuild livelihoods among vulnerable and war-affected communities.
