Government allocates sh30b for compensation of war claimants

Oct 21, 2020

The money was on Tuesday presented to Parliament as part of the supplementary request schedule one and two by the state minister of finance David Bahati.

KAMPALA - Government has earmarked sh30b to compensate verified war claimants in Acholi, Lango and Teso regions who lost property notably the cattle farmers, during the wars in Northern and Eastern Uganda. 

The money was on Tuesday presented to Parliament as part of the supplementary request schedule one and two by the state minister of finance David Bahati. 

Parliament, however, deferred the payment on ground that it was not yet clear on who was entitled to the payment given that there was no list of beneficiaries. 

Whereas MPs from Acholi and Lango said the verification has already been done, in Teso, MP Elijah Okupa informed the House that the verification is yet to be done, two years since Court ordered for the verification and payment of the claimants. 

"Court ordered that the claimants be verified within six months. But to date, the Attorney General has not done it. It's two years now. Does this money include money for verification of the Teso claimants?" Okupa asked. 

MP Cecilia Ogwal and Odonga Otto proposed that since Lango and Acholi claimants have already been verified, the list should be published in the press so that when money is paid, it goes directly to the beneficiaries. 

"The list should be tabled first before the money is released so that we know who is getting the money. Otherwise, it will be eaten by other people. There's also a likelihood that it will be given to a few people," Otto proposed. 

However, Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga said since there are still issues with the project, the release be halted until they are resolved and the rightful beneficiaries get the money. 

"This matter should be differed until all the issues concerning the compensation are addressed. The Attorney General should work on this within one month," she said. 

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