MUSEVENI PROMISES 26 BILLION TO WESTNILE, EX-COMBATANTS, HANDS OVER 1B TO START PAYMENTS
President signing the demo check holding payment of the ex- combatants while in Yumbe district.
By Ganiko Samson Bullen
Moyo
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during his visit to the West Nile sub-region in Yumbe District to commemorate 23 years of peace in the region, launched the long-awaited payment to ex-combatants with an initial installment of one billion Ugandan shillings. He promised that the full payment would be made in phases.
President Museveni stated that a total of 26 billion Ugandan shillings has been allocated to resolve the ex-combatants’ issue, though it will be disbursed over time.
"The payment starts with one billion shillings, and in the new financial year, they will receive 13 billion shillings,” Museveni said.
“The time has now come to settle the matter of the ex-combatants. But again, we shall do it in phases. We need 26 billion to complete the UNRF process. I said, on this occasion, let’s come with one billion and pay some to launch the payment,” the president noted.
He further added that in the upcoming financial year starting in July, they will disburse 13 billion, and in the following year—after re-electing the NRM—government will pay the remaining amount in full.
Meanwhile, Aleru Tom Aza, the Member of Parliament for Moyo West County, said the war fought by the ex-combatants had a significant impact on the West Nile region and called for compensation.
“You know that the guerrilla war fought here by the UNRF combatants had serious effects—people’s cows were raided, houses were burnt down, people were killed, and buses were destroyed. These people have not been compensated, so I wish the government could come out and pay all the victims,” Aza urged.
On his part, Asiku Abdumutwalib, the LC5 Chairperson for Yumbe district, appealed to the president to also consider families who suffered during the rebellion.
“You’re Excellency, as the ex-combatants are resettled, those who suffered during the rebellion have not yet been compensated. We request that these families also be supported,” Asiku appealed to the president.
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