Agency
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has defended the high costs of the government’s cattle rehabilitation program, saying it is a worthwhile investment in rebuilding household and national wealth.
Speaking at a campaign rally at Katakwi Boma Grounds on Saturday, November 1st, Museveni said the program was designed to help families in the Teso, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions recover from decades of livestock loss caused by Karamojong cattle rustling and insurgencies.
Many families in the region have long demanded government compensation for their lost animals—claims estimated at shs159 billion.
Museveni said the restocking initiative initially benefited a few individuals, prompting his government to revise the approach.
He said the new proposal aims to give each household between two to five cattle to ensure fairness and sustainability.
He revealed that a committee chaired by Vice President Jessica Alupo had been established to gather public views, leading to the popular plan of distributing five cows per family.
Museveni assured the enthusiastic crowd that he remained committed to delivering on this promise, emphasizing that livestock ownership is a foundation for wealth creation in rural communities.
