Dokolo, Uganda | Former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Julius Peter Odwe, has demanded answers from the government over the unclear allocation of funds meant for livestock compensation in the Lango Sub-region.
In a letter dated 15th June 2025, Odwe, who chairs the Lango Livestock Compensation Oversight Committee, wrote to the Minister of State for Northern Uganda questioning the UGX 80 billion announced during the national budget speech on 12th June 2025.
Odwe explained that he was travelling from Kampala to Lira via Karuma Bridge when he heard the Minister of Finance announce UGX 80 billion for livestock compensation.
However, upon reaching Loro in Oyam District, he became concerned and decided to verify the claim.
The following day, he searched for and reviewed both the 60-page Budget Speech and the 11-page Budget Framework Paper for the 2025/26 financial year.
After a thorough read, he said he found no mention of the UGX 80 billion figure that had been publicly announced.
He suspects that the figure mentioned was not meant for Lango alone but rather a total sum for Lango, Acholi, and Teso sub-regions.
He now wants the government to explain how much of the announced funds are specifically allocated to Lango.
In the same letter, Odwe laid out four key demands.
First, he called for a meeting between selected Lango leaders, the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Finance to agree on how much should go to Lango claimants.
Second, he requested that the Auditor General conduct an audit of the UGX 50 billion that was directed by the President in 2022 for compensation in Lango.
Third, he urged the Minister of Finance to provide a clear explanation on what portion of the UGX 80 billion belongs to Lango.
Lastly, he recommended that the compensation process include regular six-month updates, with progress reports publicly displayed on all Lango sub-county notice boards.
Odwe gave the government a six-month timeline to respond and act, warning that failure to do so would be a sign of negligence and a lack of commitment to resolving the long-standing matter.
The letter was copied to the President, the Attorney General, Members of Parliament from Lango, LCV Chairpersons, the cultural and religious leaders, RDCs, police commanders, and representatives from the media.
The Lango community has long awaited compensation for cattle lost during past conflicts and raids a matter that continues to cause frustration and mistrust among the affected communities.
