Lira, Uganda — Leaders of the amalgamated Lango war claimants have scheduled a harmonisation meeting with Minister of Health and Lira City Woman MP, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero; Otuke East MP, Hon. Julius Acon Bua; and Kole North MP, Hon. Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti. The meeting is set for Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Lira City.
The decision to convene this meeting follows internal tensions among the coordinators. During a preparatory meeting held on Wednesday, September 3, at Komar Hotel in Lira, the coordinators, led by Mr. Obua Sam, Eng. Fred Mike Apita, Mr. Etum Dickens, Mr. Okwanga Jasper (spokesperson for the group aligned with Akello Betty), and senior advisor Onyekho Godfrey, accused Minister Aceng and MP Acon Bua of creating parallel and unofficial lists of war claimants. They allege the lists were submitted for selfish political interests, undermining the compensation process promised by President Museveni.
Eng. Fred Apita Mike recounted how his cattle were taken in 1987, questioning MP Acon’s legitimacy in representing war claimants. He urged the MP to step aside, claiming he was not among the original or legitimate victims.
Okwanga Jasper, also speaking for Akello Betty’s group, claimed his life had been threatened multiple times due to his advocacy and warned political actors not to hijack the war claimants’ agenda for personal or political gain.
The controversy follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni during a meeting with the people of Lango Sub-region at Lango College on August 17, 2025. The President tasked the community with organizing a credible team to meet him within one month to resolve issues around compensation for war losses.
Mr. Obua Sam, Chairperson of the Lango War Debts Claimants Association, stated that they have invited war claimant leaders from all nine districts of the Lango Sub-region and Lira City to agree on a unified and credible list, rejecting what they call “ghost lists” created by non-claimants.
When contacted, Hon. Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti confirmed his attendance at the Saturday meeting. MP Acon Julius Bua, though denying the allegations, also agreed to attend. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts.
Last week, war claimants proposed that the Paramount Chief of Lango (Won Nyaci), H.H. Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, together with Hon. Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, lead the team that will meet with President Museveni at State House. This decision followed emergency meetings held on August 18, 19, 22, and 29 in Lira City.
During those meetings, senior advisor Onyekho Geoffrey and Counsel Bosco Twontoo Obaa announced that a vote of no confidence had been passed against Hon. Julius Acon Bua, accusing him of appointing himself as a representative of war claimants without their consent.
The group has also requested that the number of claimants allowed to meet the President be increased from 20 to at least 100.
Mr. Obua Sam reiterated that the lists allegedly compiled by Hon. Aceng and Hon. Acon are illegitimate and not recognized by the majority of claimants. He called for full harmonization before the final delegation meets the President.
Counsel Godfrey praised the President for initiating the engagement, but urged him to allow Hon. Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti — whom he called credible and people-centered — to lead the war claimants’ delegation on the compensation matter.
It should be noted that Mr. Obua Sam has led over 7,000 coordinators involved in voluntary mobilisation for President Museveni since 2006. He recalled that in 2016, certain individuals allegedly misled the President during an event at Mayor’s Garden in Lira, most of whom were not re-elected afterward.
“This time, we are ready to tell the truth to the President,” Obua concluded. “No more lies. We want a transparent process that benefits all genuine claimants.”
