The High Court in Gulu, has ordered government to increase the value of livestock compensation to the Acholi war claimants.
The ruling today stems from a disgreement between the claimants and government over the current price of livestock. Government had earlier offered 120,000 shillings, but the claimants want to be paid 900,000 shillings per head of cattle lost.In his ruling, Remy Kasule, the Gulu High court judge ordered that government to pay 950,000 shillings for each exotic heifer being claimed and 600,000 shillings for a mature local cow.
Kasule also ruled that an exotic goat or sheep will be paid for at 355,000 and 75,000 for a local breed.
Kasule said court used evidence provided in court by Pontious Okidi, the District Veterinary officer of Gulu to decide on the prices. He added that the ruling would only apply to the remaining part of the settlement, which government is yet to pay. Several representatives of the war debt claimants who were present in court nodded in approval while many others said the value provided by court was better compared to that previously offered by government.
Four years ago, 6,000 people from the Acholi sub region sued government demanding compensation for livestock and other property, which were allegedly eaten and destroyed by the then National Resistance Army soldiers during the 1986 Liberation war.
