Noah Opwonya, the controversial Chairperson of Acholi War Debt Claimant Association (AWDC), a group that dragged government to court demanding for compensation of cattle looted during the war that brought NRM government to power in 1986, has died aged 77.
Opwonya succumbed to colon cancer on Tuesday evening at around 6PM as he was being rushed to hospital in Kampala. He has been battling cancer for the last two years.
Opwonya’s two terms tenure as chairperson of the association was rocked with allegations of corruption which consequently led to his suspension.
In January 2026, former Gulu High Court judge, Lady Justice Margret Mutonyi dismissed an application in which he was seeking to be reinstated into office.
Through his lawyers Oryamoi & Oryamoi & Co. Advocates, Opwonya asked court to block his suspension from office and instead reinstate him.
In his application filed at Gulu High Court, Opwonya asked the judge to restrain members of the executive saying they are interfering with his work as Chairperson.
He had been suspended by the executive of Acholi War Debt Claimants after being accused of graft and mismanagement of over 7 Billion advanced to the association by the government.
In February 2016, Justice John Eudes Keitirima, the then Gulu High Court Judge ordered Opwonya to account for 7.1 billion shillings advanced to them by the government.
