Captain Mike Mukula, the National Vice Chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for Eastern Uganda, has issued a stern warning to National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, advising him to refrain from involving himself in Teso region’s sensitive matters, particularly the long-standing issue of cattle compensation.
Mukula’s admonition follows a recent event where Bobi Wine, during his visit to Teso, presented seven calves to selected elders as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the victims awaiting compensation for cattle lost during past insurgencies.
This act was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NUP and Teso elders, aiming to affirm the party’s commitment to addressing the region’s grievances.
However, Mukula criticized the gesture, interpreting it as a mockery of the Teso people’s plight. “Teso deserves respect. Do not ridicule the intelligence, the integrity, and the pride of our people,” he stated emphatically.
He further dismissed the MoU as “null and void,” asserting that such agreements should not be made without proper authority and understanding of the region’s complexities.
Echoing Mukula’s sentiments, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), labeled Bobi Wine’s actions as “amateur politics.” He warned against exploiting the desperation of Teso elders for political gain, emphasizing that offering seven calves to people who demand compensation for approximately 1.5 million cows is both inadequate and insensitive.
The issue of cattle compensation in Teso has been a contentious topic for years. Despite President Museveni’s 2022 launch of a compensation program targeting war victims in Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions, progress has been sluggish.
Many claimants have yet to receive any payments, leading to growing frustration and initiatives like the “No Cow – No Vote” campaign spearheaded by local MPs.
This movement urges the government to fulfill its compensation promises before seeking electoral support from the region.
In response to the criticism, Bobi Wine defended his actions on social media, stating, “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 emphasized that the gesture was meant to highlight the government’s prolonged inaction and to show solidarity with the affected communities.
The unfolding events underscore the deep-seated frustrations in Teso over unfulfilled government promises and highlight the complexities of addressing historical grievances in a politically charged environment.
