OBONGI, UGANDA – In a significant move addressing a decades-old grievance, President Yoweri Museveni has issued a directive for the Ugandan government to compensate victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel war in the West Nile sub-region.
The directive, dated 27th October 2025, and addressed to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robina Nabbanja, mandates the verification and payment of ex-gratia (voluntary) payments to individuals who suffered losses during the brutal insurgency led by Joseph Kony.
President Museveni stated that his attention had been drawn to the fact that victims in West Nile, who lost businesses, had vehicles burnt, and property destroyed, had never received any form of compensation from the government despite the profound impact of the conflict on their livelihoods.
“The President therefore directed the Prime Minister to coordinate the relevant government ministries like the Attorney General’s office, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic development to verify the claimants and make an ex-gratia payment,” the directive read.
While clarifying the government’s general position, President Museveni noted that it is “not logical for Government to take responsibility for actions that take place during wars or any insurgency.” However, in this case, he affirmed that the victims could be considered for an ex-gratia payment as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity.
The President added that the compensation initiative is designed to supplement other government programs aimed at improving household incomes and fostering economic recovery in the long-affected region.
The announcement has been met with a sense of relief and cautious optimism by the affected communities. Mr. Latigo Collins, the Chairperson of the Madi sub-region war claimants association, revealed the staggering scale of the tragedy, noting that over fifty thousand people were affected by the Kony war from 1987 to 2006.
“While others were killed and abducted, many more lost everything they had built over a lifetime,” Mr. Collins stated.
He advised all those who were affected by the LRA rebel war to prepare their claims and approach the respective coordinators in the districts of Moyo, Adjumani, and Obongi to be registered for the verification process.
This directive marks a pivotal step towards acknowledging the immense suffering endured by the people of West Nile and represents a long-awaited effort to provide them with a measure of justice and financial support for rebuilding their lives. The focus now shifts to the Prime Minister’s office to swiftly coordinate the involved ministries and ensure a transparent and efficient verification and payment process.
