By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Government has launched payment of Shs5.1Billion to West Nile Bank Front Ex-combatants as resettlement packages.
This was revealed today by Hon. Huda Oleru Abason, Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs while addressing the media at Uganda Media Center, Kampala.
Commencement of the payment of Uganda Shs5.1Bn for the Peace Dividend of the WNBF is to be launched next week in Koboko District on 8th May 2024 and shall benefit 4,901 ex-combatants.
Oleru says amongst the five main insurgent groups in West Nile that sprung up after the fall of Iddi Amin’s regime in 1979, ex-combatants from 3 have been fully resettled except, West Nile Bank Front of Gen Juma Oris Abdallah and Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRFI), led by Maj. Gen. Ali Bamuze.
The others were; Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRFI), led by Gen (Rtd) Moses Ali, Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRFI), led by Maj. Gen. Ali Bamuze, Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRFIl), led by Brig Nasuru Ezaga, and National Resistance Army, West Nile Front, led by Maj Muhamuddu Lambe.
She reveals that in order to settle all the residual claims in the West Nile sub-region, the Cabinet of 25th April 2024 approved the payment of Shs26.1Bn, of which Shs5.1Bn is due to WNBF to be paid this financial year.
“Shs 21Bn to be paid to UNRFI and other residual individuals from UNRFII in the budget fiscal year 2024/25,” Oleru says.
The initial step in the process of effecting the payments commenced with the mobilisation of ex-combatants in the West Nile districts of Pakwach, Zombo, Nebbi, Madi-Okolo, Arua, Arua City, Maracha, Terego, Koboko, Yumbe, Obongi, Moyo, and Adjumani.
The main focus of the mobilization was to relieve the fears of the affected individuals who had become restless about the perceived delay in settling their claims and laying the ground for verification of the beneficiaries.
The mobilization was followed by the verification of the ex-combatants of the WNBF, which was completed through the Security Ministry.
A verified schedule of 4,901 ex-combatants was subsequently approved for payment to absorb a budget of UGX 5.1Bn, which was raised from the budget of the MODVA in FY 2023/2024.
The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) has also budgeted for Shs21Bn in the fiscal year 2024/25 to pay UNRFI and other residual individuals from UNRFI.
