GULU CITY, January 14, 2026 — Members of the Acholi War Debt Claimants Association have called on government to implement cattle restocking alongside their compensation, saying the compensation process is long overdue.
The Government of Uganda, through the Office of the Prime Minister, recently announced that Shs 80 billion has been allocated for cattle restocking in Northern Uganda and the Teso Sub-region.
The programme, which is expected to be completed over the next five years, is estimated to cost Shs 52 trillion. Under the plan, each household is expected to receive Shs 5 million to purchase two bulls and three heifers.
However, James Ocaya, a war debt claimant, said it was disappointing that the government was prioritising cattle restocking while failing to fulfil its long-standing commitment to compensate war claimants.
“It is disappointing that the government is not prioritising war claimants, even after failing to honour its promise to clear the compensation within two financial years starting from 2008/2009,” Ocaya said.
Eighteen years ago, the claimants took the government to court, resulting in a consent judgment in which the government agreed to pay compensation within two financial years.
“This cattle restocking initiative is coming at a time when compensation for war claimants has been excessively delayed. If the government were honest, it would have started by fulfilling its promise to compensate the claimants. Many of our members have died without ever receiving compensation,” Ocaya said.
He added that the failure to compensate claimants has contributed to poor education outcomes in the region, as many Acholi families are unable to pay school fees for their children.
Ocaya said the association does not oppose the cattle restocking programme but wants the government to set clear priorities.
“The government has introduced a programme to restock cattle in Acholi after realising that the community has suffered prolonged poverty. While we appreciate this, the restocking should have come after compensation,” he said.
Julius Oleke, Chairperson of the War Debt Claimants Association, said that about 1,800 members across the eight districts of the Acholi sub-region have died over the past 30 years without receiving compensation.
“More than 200 members have died in each of the eight districts in the Acholi sub-region. It is now their children who are pursuing compensation through letters of administration of the deceased persons’ estates,” Oleke said.
According to Oleke, the association is demanding Shs 1 trillion from the government for livestock and property lost between 1987 and 1988 during the National Resistance Army (NRA) war that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power in 1986.
The livestock losses include 866,134 head of cattle, 187,097 goats, 140,578 sheep and 7,945 pigs.
Oleke made the remarks during a press conference held at the association’s offices in Gulu City on Thursday, flanked by other members.
He said the association has 21,266 members drawn from the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Amuru, Agago, Lamwo, Pader, Nwoya and Omoro.
Over the past 14 years, the government has paid more than Shs 70 billion in compensation to members for stolen livestock.
Another claimant, Alfred Olanya Lubel, said: “We have been resilient despite our struggles. We are now asking the government to tell us clearly when they intend to compensate the remaining war claimants.”
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