War Claimants Urge Museveni Intervention Over Unpaid 2014 Compensation

War claimants, representing approximately 92,000 individuals from the Teso, Lango, and Acholi regions, have escalated their demands for compensation, appealing directly to President Yoweri Museveni. The Greater North United War Debt Claimants Association met with officials at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to press for the implementation of a 2014 High Court ruling. This ruling mandated the government to compensate claimants for livestock lost during the two-decade insurgency in Northern Uganda.

Leaders within the association expressed deep disappointment with the prolonged delay, noting that the court judgment, awarded over a decade ago, remains largely unimplemented. They are seeking a direct, non-politicized meeting with President Museveni to present their proposals for a fair and economically viable compensation plan.

Furthermore, the claimants have warned of escalating the matter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights if the government continues to disregard the 2014 Lira High Court order. The association stated they were not consulted regarding the current cattle restocking initiative and find it misaligned with the court’s award, which also included general damages of Shs5 million plus interest per claimant.

In response, the Office of the Prime Minister, through Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza, indicated that efforts are underway through a restocking program. For the 2025/2026 financial year, Shs80 billion has been allocated to benefit 16,000 households, with each receiving Shs5 million for purchasing cows. While acknowledging implementation irregularities, Kakooza reported that significant progress has been made in beneficiary registration and the commencement of payments, with a target completion for the first phase by June 30, 2026.

https://www.monitor.ug/uganda/news/national/northern-war-claimants-seek-museveni-intervention-over-unpaid-compensation-5558702