Deputy Attorney General Explains Delay in Compensating War Debt Claimants

The Prime Minister of Koch Clan, Betty Acan Tino, has challenged the deputy Attorney General over the delayed compensation of cattle in Omoro district since the compensation exercise was launched in 2022.  

The claimants are seeking compensation for their livestock and other properties that were lost during past insurgencies in the Acholi sub-region. Speaking during a meeting to release the recommendations on the implementation of Executive Order Number 3 on Saturday, Tino noted that the claimants, especially in Omoro are tired of waiting for the compensation money, and worried that many might die before receiving the compensation   

//Cue in: “Ludtio Acholi dong…  

Cue out: …pa dyang’gi ni.”//  

The compensation of war debt claimants was launched in the 2021/2022 financial year by President Yoweri Museveni in Soroti. That same year, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs received Shillings 50 billion and each district was given Shillings 1.7 billion.  

Tino says that since then, claimants in Omoro have not received any money and the reason is that they have errors on their information card. She thinks the money released to compensate the claimants is being saved to accumulate interest for a few selfish officials.  

//Cue in: “Cul ma wiye…  

Cue out: …culu mucara gi’o?’//     

Jackson Kafuuzi, the deputy Attorney General, explained that indeed Omoro and Kumi districts were not paid in the financial year 2021/2022 because they had errors on their data cards. Kafuuzi refuted claims that they are dishonestly keeping the claimants’ money, but rather explained that they did not receive money in the financial year 2022/2023.

 

//Cue in: “Omoro and Kumi…   

Cue out: …something like that.”//  

Kafuuzi revealed that they expect to receive at least Shillings 30 billion this financial year, out of which Shillings 9 billion was sent in the first quarter.  He explained that out of the Shillings 9 billion, Shillings 3.4 billion was set aside for Omoro and Kumi districts which did not receive the money in 2021/2022.  

//Cue in: “Out of the…   

Cue out: …purse is small.”// 

 

Matters of the war claims have dragged on for two decades.  Available information indicates that there are 4,927 claimants in Omoro and Gulu districts.