War debt claimants in Amuru district are demanding for 68 Billion shillings from government as compensation for animals lost during the period when the then National Resistance Army (NRA) took over power.
Government in 2011 advanced the claimants 500 million shillings. Out of the money, the claimants say they are now left with a balance of 400, 8100 shillings.
Piero Paul Ocan, the Chairperson of claimants says they have so far paid 428 individuals from the money they received five years ago.
Ocan told Acholi Times that 2,150 families that are still demanding for compensation. He asked government to speed up the process of compensation to enable beneficiaries to get what is meant for them as some are dying due to old age while others are terminally ill.
Some Amuru residents have say they will not vote the NRM unless government pays them for animals lost.
William Kidega, 73, a resident of Parubanga village, Pabbo Sub County said that he believes the current government is responsible for the loss of his cattle which he acquired as dowry for his daughter.
However the Amuru District NRM party Chairperson William Nokrach described the demand as unrealistic saying that the government has shown commitment by paying the war debt claimants billions of shillings.
Nokrach who also represents persons with disabilities in Parliament explained that delay in paying some of the individuals who lost their animals is due to the mismanagement by the executive members of Acholi War Debt Claimants Association.
Acholi War Debts Claimants Association was formed in July 2005 as a pressure group seeking compensation from the government for property lost during the 1986 National Resistance Army( NRA) war which brought President Yoweri Museveni into power.
Between 2006 and 2011, government advanced to the association 10 billion shillings. Last year court ordered the group to account for 7.1 billion shillings following accusations on the executive over mismanagement of the funds meant for compensation of those who lost animals.
With over 23,000 members in all the seven districts of Acholi, the claimants are demanding for 7 trillion shillings as compensation for lost animals and property destroyed during the NRM liberation war which brought President Museveni and his NRM government to power more than 29 years ago.
