Resettle the war veterans: West Nile leaders urge the government.

By Morish Dramadri

Arua.

West Nile leaders have tasked the government to resettle the war veterans in the region following their fight for peace in the country to enable them attain a peace of mind.

In a meeting with President Museveni during his tour in the region, Hon. Huda Oleru the Woman Member of Parliament for Yumbe district who also doubles as the State Minister for Veteran Affair questioned the government on its plan for the veterans in West Nile as they freely handed over their guns to seek peace. “The people of West Nile have been part of bringing peace to Uganda. As peace lovers we had West Nile bank front, when they realized that it was not possible to continue with the war peacefully they came and handed over their guns to the government and they settled so what is the government doing to resettle the West Nile bank front which was led by the late Juma Oris?”, Minister Oleru asked. 

Hon. Mambo Ashraf the district chairman for Koboko said they were made to compile the list of the veteran from the district since last year and promise was made to pay 5 million to the veterans. “Last year we were involved in mobilizing the veteran in west Nile and you made a commitment that by this financial year the veteran are going to be paid, there is money allocated 5 billion. Can you give as the stage where the 5 billion is?” Asraf inquired.

But Rtd brig. Emmanuel Musinguzi the director for veteran affairs in the ministry of veteran affairs revealed that so far they have paid 1,100 back log cases from West Nile region and 991 cases are remaining to be paid and urged the local leaders to consider the veteran as vulnerable people. “The local leaders in the local government, there is what we call affirmative action, always consider the veterans as special vulnerable group because when they were training and soldiering they only know about use of guns and when they come out they are lost.

So far we have paid 1,100 back log cases in the greater West Nile 991 cases are yet to be paid this means when we put this in monetary terms, the veterans paid so far have been paid 11.6 billion shillings the survivor benefits, these are orphans and widows have been paid 2.6 billion, ex gratia 434 million, total for the greater West Nile is 14.7 billion shillings”. Musinguzi explained.
Several ex-service men from the region who participated in rebel wars under the leaderships of late Juma Oris, the West Nile bank front leader and late Ali Bamze, UNRF 2 leader, have become vulnerable after laying down their arms as they only knew about soldiering.

COVER PHOTO: Hon. Huda Oleru the state minister for veteran affairs appealing for the resettlement of the veterans. By Morish Dramadri