KAMPALA — Budadiri East Member of Parliament Hon. Julius Nakiyi Muntu has called on Government to consider including the Bugisu subregion among areas eligible for compensation for cattle lost during past insurgencies and Karamojong cattle raids.
Nakiyi made the call on the floor of Parliament during debate on the report of the Presidential Affairs Committee regarding the status of the ongoing government restocking programme in the Lango, Acholi and Teso subregions.
He argued that Bugisu also suffered significant losses during periods of insecurity, particularly from Karamojong raids that affected communities in the region from the late 1980s through the early 2000s.
According to Nakiyi, the raids resulted in the loss of livestock and human lives, leaving many families in Bugisu without the cattle that formed an important part of their livelihoods.
He cited the family of former Budadiri East MP Hon. Isaiah Sasanga as an example, saying Sasanga’s father was among those who lost his life during the Karamojong raids.
Nakiyi also raised the issue of insurgency in the region, noting that the Force Obote Back (FOBA) rebel group associated with Peter Otai operated in parts of Bugisu during the period of unrest.
He further recalled that FOBA’s activities affected the wider region and mentioned former UPM historical figure Hon. Perez Musamali from Namisindwa in connection with the political history of the period.
Nakiyi therefore urged Government to broaden its consideration of affected communities when implementing restocking and compensation programmes, arguing that families in Bugisu who lost cattle during raids and insurgency should also be considered based on verifiable evidence of their losses. Parliament is currently considering the Presidential Affairs Committee’s report on the restocking programme in Lango, Acholi and Teso.
