Soroti, Uganda – A protest demanding compensation for Teso war victims escalated in Soroti City, leading to the arrest of FDC President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo Acom.
The demonstration, organized by opposition politicians and activists, called for government action on long-delayed payments to families affected by the insurgencies and cattle raids of the 1980s and 1990s.
Also arrested were Soroti City West FDC Chairperson Isaac Asaku, Kumi Woman MP aspirant Mary Goretti Atemo, and Sam Acaitum, an aide to MP Alobo.
The protest followed growing frustration over the slow implementation of court-ordered compensation. Demonstrators chanted “No Cow, No Vote,” a slogan used by Teso MPs to pressure authorities into fulfilling their promises before the 2026 elections.
Speaking before her arrest, MP Alobo emphasized, “Teso has been ignored for too long. People who lost their livelihoods decades ago are still suffering. We will not stop demanding what is rightfully ours.”
FDC leader Amuriat accused the government of deliberately delaying the compensation process, stating, “The President stood in Soroti and promised payments, but where is the money? People are still waiting. We are tired of excuses.”
The government launched a compensation program in 2022, pledging to pay victims in Acholi, Lango and Teso.
While some payments have been made in other regions, Teso leaders argue their people have been sidelined. Courts had ruled that victims should receive UGX 20 million per adult life lost, UGX 10 million per child, and UGX 3 million for damages.
Gweri County MP Tom Julius Ekudo condemned the arrests and reaffirmed the protesters’ demands, stating that the issue was about justice, not politics.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka cited challenges in verifying claims as the reason for the slow compensation process, while Osborne Omoding of the Teso Animal and Property Compensation Organization (TAPCO) suggested MPs should focus on pushing for faster compensation through Parliament.
The arrests have heightened political tensions, following the earlier detainment of 40 Teso elders after a meeting with opposition leader Bobi Wine on the same issue.
The “No Cow, No Vote” movement is gaining momentum, increasing pressure on the government ahead of the 2026 elections.
