By Alex Baite
President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday met and held a key meeting with leaders from the Lango sub-region at Lango College Grounds in Lira District to discuss cattle compensation for communities affected by past conflicts.
During the meeting, President Museveni highlighted three main points. He attributed the loss of property, including cattle, to poor politics, particularly identity-based politics, which have historically fuelled conflicts in Uganda.
Mr. Museveni also sought input from local leaders on the government’s compensation approach, while cautioning against expectations that all issues could be resolved at once, stressing a step-by-step process.
In response, the Lango leaders agreed to select a group of about 20 individuals who will work directly with the President to develop a practical plan for implementing cattle compensation.
President Museveni assured the leaders that the government is committed to a sustainable and phased approach to resolving the long-standing issue. “We must address these matters step by step,” he said, urging patience while planning for fair and effective compensation.
The Lango sub-region has been grappling with compensation issues dating back to previous conflicts, with communities awaiting resolution of claims related to lost property and livestock.
Local leaders, including Members of Parliament and council representatives, have long advocated for a transparent and timely process to address the grievances of affected residents.
Sunday’s meeting in Lira reflects the government’s effort to engage directly with local leadership and affected communities to find solutions, with a clear focus on collaboration, fairness, and phased implementation.
The visit comes at a time when propagandists have started fuelling rumours that the government has failed to compensate the people of Lango Sub region after losing their property during the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency because it wants to keep them poor.
The Lango sub-region is currently divided into nine districts: Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Lira, Oyam, Otuke, and Kwania District, and locals mainly rely on land as the key economic asset.