Veterans in Nakaseke on Thursday shunned the 26th National Resistance Movement Liberation Day celebrations in protest of what they called mismanagement and nepotism in compensation scheme.
More than 500 veterans of the 1981-1986 Luweero bush war claim that they have not benefited from the compensation scheme and want President Yoweri Museveni to conduct fresh investigations into the scheme.
Nakaseke district had invited veterans for the January 26th NRM Day at Kiwoko Town Council playground. The function was, however, poorly attended with only political leaders, civil servants, and a few residents turning up. The veterans accused the Luweero Triangle War Association and the Ministry for Luweero Triangle for mismanaging the compensation scheme leaving them out.
The secretary for Kikamulo sub county veterans association, Retired Sergeant Chrisestom Ngomboka says that since 2000 the government has been promising them compensation for the damage caused during the war, but they have not got anything.
Ngomboka adds that some of the people who got the compensation money are impostors who did not participate in the war and others received the money because they are friends with the war association officials.
Another veteran, George Kalumba says that in 2008 President Museveni ordered them to open up bank accounts but until now the money has never been deposited and some of the banks have closed the accounts.
George Kalumba adds that he has resorted to charcoal burning for survival and is disappointed that people who never fought are the ones being praised and rewarded with huge sums of money. Kalumba also says that the Liberation day has lost meaning because the issues they fought against are now the order of the day.
The veterans asked President Museveni to appoint another committee and investigate the mismanagement of the compensation scheme before releasing further payments.
Nakaseke Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Kyomukama, who was the guest of honour, admitted that some veterans have not been paid but government is considering their request.
//Cue in: When you go to records……………….”
Cue out:…………………..then we shall sort out’’//
In 2008, President Museveni ordered for compensation of Luweero war veterans and 10 billion shillings is allocated to the scheme per year. Over 60,000 people have been listed to benefit from the scheme and every veteran is entitled to not more than one million shillings as compensation.
