Sh2b paid to war victims in Acholiland
Jan 03, 2010
The Government has so far paid sh2b to the 6,436 registered Acholi war debt claimants who lost livestock during the 20-year LRA insurgency.
By Chris Ocowun
The Government has so far paid sh2b to the 6,436 registered Acholi war debt claimants who lost livestock during the 20-year LRA insurgency.
The claimants are demanding sh1.4 trillion for their 245,046 animals, which were allegedly raided during the insurgency.
According to the chairman of the claimants, Norbert Adyera, the first release of sh550m was made in June 2009 for category A, which included 135 claimants who had received partial payment for their cattle in 1994.
Adyera said in December 2009, another sh1.5b was released to pay part of the money claimed by people in category B.
This is the category whose claims have been verified by the defence ministry. In total, category B claimants are demanding for sh38b.
Speaking to The New Vision in Gulu, Adyera explained that after handling category A and B, a verification team will start scrutinising the fresh claimants (category C) to confirm the authenticity of the claims.
The special presidential advisor in the north, Richard Todwong, said ghost claimants would be deleted from the list.
“We have got reports that relatives are tearing each other apart over this money. We shall withhold payment for families where there is dispute over who should receive the compensation on behalf the rest,†Todwong warned.
The Government recently requested Gulu High Court to give them two months to negotiate an out of court settlement with the claimants.
The claimants include people from Pader, Gulu, Kitgum and Amuru districts.
Adyera said the sh1.4 trillion, which includes the value of the animals as well as lost revenue from the milk and beef, was computed by the Gulu University Faculty of Science.
â€It took us two years to register the claimants. Many people did not take us seriously. But now they all want to be included because they have heard that the Government wants to settle the claims out of court,†Paulinus Nyeko, an executive member of the War Debt Claimants, said.
President Yoweri Museveni in June 2009 directed the Attorney General to constitute a team with officials from the ministries of defence, justice and constitutional affairs to verify the claimants.
The Government has so far paid sh2b to the 6,436 registered Acholi war debt claimants who lost livestock during the 20-year LRA insurgency.
The claimants are demanding sh1.4 trillion for their 245,046 animals, which were allegedly raided during the insurgency.
According to the chairman of the claimants, Norbert Adyera, the first release of sh550m was made in June 2009 for category A, which included 135 claimants who had received partial payment for their cattle in 1994.
Adyera said in December 2009, another sh1.5b was released to pay part of the money claimed by people in category B.
This is the category whose claims have been verified by the defence ministry. In total, category B claimants are demanding for sh38b.
Speaking to The New Vision in Gulu, Adyera explained that after handling category A and B, a verification team will start scrutinising the fresh claimants (category C) to confirm the authenticity of the claims.
The special presidential advisor in the north, Richard Todwong, said ghost claimants would be deleted from the list.
“We have got reports that relatives are tearing each other apart over this money. We shall withhold payment for families where there is dispute over who should receive the compensation on behalf the rest,†Todwong warned.
The Government recently requested Gulu High Court to give them two months to negotiate an out of court settlement with the claimants.
The claimants include people from Pader, Gulu, Kitgum and Amuru districts.
Adyera said the sh1.4 trillion, which includes the value of the animals as well as lost revenue from the milk and beef, was computed by the Gulu University Faculty of Science.
â€It took us two years to register the claimants. Many people did not take us seriously. But now they all want to be included because they have heard that the Government wants to settle the claims out of court,†Paulinus Nyeko, an executive member of the War Debt Claimants, said.
President Yoweri Museveni in June 2009 directed the Attorney General to constitute a team with officials from the ministries of defence, justice and constitutional affairs to verify the claimants.