Jimmy Akena, president of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), has criticised the government's cattle compensation program for Teso, Lango, and Acholi regions, calling it a "mockery" and "laughable".

Speaking at a burial ceremony in Serere District on Thursday, Mr Akena said the program is a "cheating and deceptive approach" that fails to address the true extent of the losses suffered by the affected communities.

"The government's commitment is a joke," Akena said. "They claim to be repaying Teso, Lango, and Acholi for lost cattle, but their projections and mode of payment are unrealistic."

Akena cited the example of Teso, where the total value of lost cattle is estimated at Shs2.3 to 2.6 trillion, Lango Shs1.7 trillion, and Acholi Shs1.1 trillion, meaning the government's compensation program would take about 46 years to clear the debt.

“If I use an example of Shs230M, it means government is saying they are paying Shs 5M per year against Shs 230m. So they are paying Shs50bn to Teso against the genuine outstanding debt of Shs2.6 trillion and that will take a span of 46 years to clear a debt that happened more than 30 years ago,” he stated.

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