KABERAMAIDO, October 2, 2025 — The Chief Justice of Uganda, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, has called on farmers in Northern Uganda to continue investing in livestock farming as a strategy to eradicate poverty, and improve household incomes.
Justice Owiny-Dollo made the remarks recently at Majeno B Cell, Majeno Ward, Kaberamaido Town Council in Kaberamaido district, where he was speaking as the chief mourner during the burial of the late Saulo Nyeko-Rac, father of the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Dr Kenneth Omona.
He attributed rising poverty levels in the region to a shift away from traditional livestock farming towards cotton cultivation, which he referred to as part of the “colonial economy”.
“The colonial economy did not favour Northern Uganda, which was based on cotton, yet cotton yielded very little. After independence, although we were in government, our economy remained centred on cotton. If you want Teso, Lango, and Acholi to recover, go back to their economic backbone, livestock farming,” he said.
The Chief Justice expressed concern about the drastic reduction in cattle numbers in the region. Citing the example of the former Agago County, he noted that the cattle population had dropped from 53,000 to just 400 in a span of five years.
“I remember from my Primary Four Geography that the district with the highest cattle population was Teso. But everything changed in the 1980s, particularly after the Karamojong accessed firearms from the Moroto barracks. Between 1986 and 1988, it was a catastrophe.
According to the 1985 cattle census, Agago County had 53,000 head of cattle. Five years later, that number had fallen to just 400. If the backbone of the economy was cattle, what does that mean? From 53,000 to 400, you’re as good as dead,” he stated.
His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya, the cultural leader [Won Ateker Papa] of the Kumam, urged the government to expedite the long-awaited cattle compensation programme to help the region recover from livestock losses incurred during past insurgencies.
“We continue to appeal to the government to fast-track the cattle compensation process. I am pleased that the government has announced plans to provide at least one cow per household in the region, this would greatly support our recovery from the massive livestock losses,” he said.
Minister Omona encouraged farmers to make use of the current peace and stability brought by the ruling National Resistance Movement [NRM] government to revitalise cattle farming across Northern and Eastern Uganda.
“We must take advantage of this peace and security to build wealth at the household level and, in turn, contribute to national development. We have remained poor because we have relied too much on maize and cotton instead of investing in coffee and livestock. That is my message to you — let us now focus on coffee and livestock during this time of peace,” he urged.
Minister Omona also paid tribute to his late father, describing him as a freedom fighter, a hard worker, and a prominent cassava and cotton farmer who rejected dependency.
“My father was a pilgrim who journeyed from Kitgum to Kaberamaido in search of a better life. He worked at Puranag Ginnery, travelled to Mwanza in Tanzania, and eventually settled in Kaberamaido for trade. He dealt in food, household items, and games products. My father hated handouts. Above all, he was a liberator and believed in hard work,” he said.
A legacy of transformation
In a condolence message delivered by Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua, President Yoweri Museveni praised the late Nyeko-Rac for investing in his children’s education and values, describing them as pillars of transformation in their communities.
“Mzee Nyeko made sacrifices to educate and nurture his children, enabling them to become supportive forces and agents of transformation and development in their communities. I commend him for being a man of purpose,” Museveni’s message read in part.
The late Mzee Saulo Nyeko-Rac was born on August 15, 1944 in Wimuno Pecek, present-day Kitgum district. He passed away on September 18, 2025 at a hospital in Kampala.
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