A total of 4901 ex- combatants with West Nile Bank Front(WNBF)will starting next week, share a shs5.1 billion resettlement package from government..
Formed by ex- Uganda Army soldiers who remained loyal to Idi Amin, West Nile Bank Front led by Maj Gen Juma Oris Abdallah destabilized West Nile and was actively fighting against the current government.
With bases in DRC and South Sudan( previously Sudan), the group carried out several kidnaps and violent raids in West Nile and they always faced off with the UPDF until they were defeated around 1997.
The group’s remaining bases in Sudan were destroyed during a battle at Kaya by the UPDF, SPLA and Congolese armed groups.
The battle at Kaya saw the group commander, Juma Oris wounded and the group could no longer continue fighting.
Government however decided to give resettlement packages to all fighters of the group.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the State Minister for Defence in charge of veteran affairs, Abason Huda Oleru said cabinet sitting on April, 25, 2024 approved the payment of the former WNBF fighters.
“Whereas others were paid their resettlement packages, others have not yet been paid. Therefore, this financial year, ex-combatants for ex-combatants for West Nile Front Bank. A verified schedule of 4901 ex-combatants was approved for payment to absorb a budget of shs5.1 billion which was raised from the budget of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs in the financial year 2023/ 2024. Therefore, the official launch for the payment will be done in Koboko on May, 8,” Oleru said.
She said in order to avoid issues of ghosts receiving payment, government carried out a verification exercise which commenced with mobilisation of ex-combatants in the West Nile districts of Pakwach, Zobo, Nebbi, Madi, Okolo, Arua, Arua City, Maracha, Terego, Koboko, Yumbe, Obongi, Moyo and Adjumani.
She said the verification exercise saw 4901 ex-combatants approved for payment .
“We developed a structure of identifying these people and for those who died, their beneficiaries will receive the money. If one died, the next of kin will be able to receive the money but we also we also went further to ensure family meetings to agree on who should receive the money on behalf of the family,” Minister Oleru said.
During the 2021 campaigns, President Museveni said there had been a delay in the payment but said it was for good reasons.
The President said because government has many competing needs, it first deals with the most pressing ones, but assured that the former fighters would soon be compensated because money is available.
“Now that we have the core done, we can deal with other smaller things. This shs11 billion is nothing. It is not lack of money but what you start with and why start with it. Definitely, this one will be done,” he said.
