The National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Vice Chairperson for the Eastern Region has issued a strong warning to National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, cautioning him against involving himself in the sensitive matters of the Teso region, particularly the long-standing issue of cattle compensation.
This warning follows Bobi Wine’s recent visit to Teso, during which he presented seven calves to selected elders as a symbolic show of solidarity with victims still awaiting compensation for cattle lost during past insurgencies.
This act was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the NUP and Teso elders, aimed at reaffirming the party’s commitment to addressing the historical grievances of the region.
However, the gesture has not been well received by some political leaders. NRM’s Eastern Region Vice Chairperson, Mike Mukula, strongly criticized the move, interpreting it as a mockery of the Teso people’s suffering. “Teso deserves respect. Do not ridicule the intelligence, the integrity, and the pride of our people,” Mukula said emphatically.
He further declared the MoU “null and void,” arguing that such agreements should not be made without proper authority, legitimacy, and a deep understanding of the region’s complex historical context.
Echoing Mukula’s stance, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Oboi Amuriat also condemned Bobi Wine’s actions, describing them as “amateur politics.” He accused Kyagulanyi of exploiting the desperation of Teso elders for political mileage and warned against using symbolic gestures to mask the seriousness of the region’s grievances. Amuriat pointed out that offering seven calves to people seeking compensation for an estimated 1.5 million lost cattle is both grossly inadequate and deeply insensitive.
The issue of cattle compensation in Teso has remained a contentious and unresolved matter for several years. In 2022, President Yoweri Museveni launched a compensation program intended to benefit war victims in the Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions. However, the implementation of this program has been notably slow, and many claimants continue to wait for the promised payments.
The delays have sparked widespread frustration among residents and prompted grassroots campaigns such as the “No Cow – No Vote” movement, championed by local Members of Parliament. This initiative calls on the government to deliver compensation before seeking electoral support from the region’s population.
In response to the wave of criticism, Bobi Wine took to social media to defend his actions. “As a gesture of our commitment to their plight, we handed over seven calves to selected elders. The calves are a symbol of hope and a new beginning for themselves and their children,” he wrote.
Kyagulanyi emphasized that the act was intended to highlight the government’s ongoing failure to address the community’s concerns and to express genuine solidarity with the affected people of Teso.
These unfolding events reflect the deep-seated frustrations within the Teso sub-region over the government’s unfulfilled promises and reveal the intricate and politically sensitive nature of resolving historical injustices in Uganda.