The coordinator of Lango War Claimants Association, Ogwang Adonyo, has issued a press statement bitterly complaining about delays in issuing data cards at the district level in Lango sub-region. There is already worry and disappointment among several beneficiaries of Lango War Debt Claimants Association, particularly from their leaders in the nine districts of Lango sub-region and one city, who recently took the government of Uganda to court over their lost animals.
Mr. Ogwang Moses Adonyo, the coordinator of Lango War Debt Claimants Association, while addressing the media at Pacific Grand Hotel in Lira City earlier this week, outlined a number of concerns. He criticized some top district officials in Lango sub-region for withholding several data cards, which has become a major setback in the compensation process for intended beneficiaries.
“I was in Oyam district, and an officer warned me to stop frequenting his office about data cards because the government of Uganda will not release any money for compensation,” Ogwang Adonyo disclosed during a press briefing.
He, however, commended Kole district leaders for their support and cooperation since the beginning of the exercise. He also criticized Apac district for its dismal performance, with only about 0.2 percent of claimants receiving compensation from the government.
According to Mr. Ogwang Adonyo, in a letter dated April 9, 2024, addressed to all Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in Lango, Teso, and Acholi sub-regions, Deputy Attorney General Kafuzi Jackson Karugaba gave clear instructions regarding data cards.
Adonyo warned that failure to issue data cards to claimants contravenes the directives of His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, and the Attorney General. He advised accounting officers that war debt compensation in the three regions (Teso, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions) should be open to all claimants, with local governments verifying and issuing data cards to beneficiaries through their district structures.
Hon. Judith Alyek, Kole District Woman MP and Chairperson of Lango Parliamentary Group, disclosed that Lango has approximately 125,000 claimants demanding compensation from the government. She emphasized that filling out data cards is open to all claimants and pledged ongoing efforts by Lango Parliamentary Group to remind the government to compensate those who lost animals.
Meanwhile, in 2010, war victims under the umbrella “Lango War Claimants Association” sued the government in civil suit number 027/2010 at Lira High Court circuit, demanding compensation for animals and property lost during the war between 1986-2006.
Former High Court Judge Justice Byamukama Mugenyi, who was attached to Lira High Court at the time, presided over the case and ruled that each claimant should be paid 4 million UGX as general damages and 1 million UGX each for exemplary costs incurred during the case. The government was also ordered to grant the claimants 25% of the total award from 2004 to date.
Adonyo urged leaders at all levels in various districts of Lango sub-region to cooperate with their district coordinators on issuing data cards, ensuring that lost animals and property are compensated by the government.
