The National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni he plans to begin the implementation of the cattle restocking program in Teso, Acholi, and Lango regions.
He said the Cattle Restocking and Rehabilitation Program, aimed at rebuilding the livestock of communities in northern and eastern Uganda, will be rolled out over a period of three to four years.
Speaking in Bukedea district, where he concluded his last campaign trail in Teso, Museveni revealed that the government had reached a consensus on the need to reintroduce cattle to affected sub-regions such as Teso, Lango, and Acholi.
He hastened to add that implementation will require careful planning and adequate budgeting.
“We are discussing it in government, and I have informed the Cabinet that the people have supported my idea. So, the government will now plan—plan the money, plan the budget,” Museveni said.
“I am glad that at the community level and at my level, we have all agreed. I am now going to involve the whole government. They will plan. It will not be implemented in just one season; it may take three to four years to be implemented.”
Museveni explained that the program will be delivered in phases, taking into account the large number of households that need to be supported.
He said the program targets more than one million households across the sub-regions of Teso, Lango, and Acholi, that suffered massive cattle losses during years of insurgency and cattle rustling.
“You see, the homesteads from Lango, Acholi, and Teso are more than one million households. If you say five cows per household, that’s a lot of money. The government will plan now—it can’t be done at once,” he said.
Museveni explained that the phased approach will ensure accountability, transparency, and sustainability in the implementation process, while also allowing the government to align the program with other ongoing national development priorities.
He added that the plan represents a continuation of his long-standing commitment to rebuilding the economic foundation of the north and east, which were among the regions most affected by cattle rustling, displacement, and prolonged instability in past decades. “If we had started 10 years ago, we would have finished by now. But the important thing is that we have agreed to move forward,” he remarked.
The cattle restocking initiative has been one of the most discussed topics during Museveni’s ongoing campaign and development tours in Teso and neighboring sub-regions.
During the recent rallies in Kapelebyong, Kumi, Serere, Katakwi, Kalaki, and Kaberemaido Districts, Museveni announced his proposal to distribute five cows per household as a practical step to restore livelihoods and rebuild family wealth.
The announcement was met with widespread excitement across Teso, where communities continue to recover from the loss of hundreds of thousands of cattle during the cattle rustling era of the 1980s and 1990s.
Museveni said the upcoming program will not only focus on giving out cows but will also include a broader plan for livestock management, veterinary support, pasture development, and market access to ensure that beneficiaries can productively grow and sustain their herds.
“This is not just about giving out animals; it is about rebuilding a sustainable cattle economy,” the President emphasized. “We are looking at milk, meat, and breeding opportunities so that every family can earn a living and contribute to Uganda’s wealth creation agenda.”
He linked the restocking effort to existing government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, both of which aim to push Ugandans into the money economy through enterprise development at the grassroots.
He noted that integrating livestock distribution with PDM structures would help ensure that the program reaches genuine beneficiaries, reduces duplication, and strengthens local accountability.
“Through PDM and other programs, we already have local structures that can help identify who should benefit. We must avoid misuse and ensure that these cows go to families who will look after them and multiply them,” Museveni said.
Museveni revealed that the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant government departments have been tasked to develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap for the program. This will include the procurement of livestock, identification of suitable breeds, training of beneficiaries, and setting up of a veterinary support system.
While Museveni did not disclose the total budget estimate, government sources have indicated that the program could require hundreds of billions of shillings to reach full coverage. Museveni, however, said the focus is on proper sequencing and effective use of resources rather than rushing implementation.
“This is a big project. We must plan well so that what we start, we finish successfully. Uganda is now peaceful, and we can plan development properly without panic,” he stated.
Kapelebyong District Chairperson, Jacob Ocen, said the gradual rollout plan makes sense, given the financial implications of covering such a large population.
“We are happy that the President is not just making promises but is thinking through the implementation. Even if it takes four years, it will transform our communities when it starts,” Ocen told reporters.
However, some leaders called for transparency and fair distribution once the program starts, warning against corruption and favoritism that have undermined similar initiatives in the past.
Museveni reiterated that the government’s focus is on empowering Ugandans to engage in production rather than dependency, arguing that livestock ownership is central to wealth creation and financial independence in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. “Cattle are not just animals; they are a bank, a source of income, nutrition, and dignity. When every family has cows, you have financial security and the ability to send your children to school and meet your needs,” he said.
The need to compensate victims who lost their cattle to the various conflicts keeps emerging during the campaigns, like the current ones. Some of the victims sued the government, and the government was ordered to compensate them, but the process has been sluggish.
MPS from the West Nile and Sebei have in the past raised the matter on the floor of Parliament. They protested that while their areas lost cattle from the LRA and Lakwena wars, the government has only focused on Teso, Lango, and Acholi.
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