Govt to pay Sh5.1bn to 4,900 ex-rebels

By Olivia Nabaggala
3rd May 2024
The government through the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs is set to this financial year 2023/2024 commence payment of Sh5.1billion to over 4,900 ex-combatants of the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF).
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 were actively fighting against the UPDF from Sudan (current South Sudan) and Democratic Republic of Congo until 1997 when they were defeated.
The group was responsible for kidnaps and violent raids including laying landmines that killed a number of people.
By 1997, the last WNBF bases in Sudan were destroyed at a major battle at Kaya in which the SPLA, UPDF and several Congolese armed groups took part and its leader Juma Oris was wounded, prompting the group to split.
President Museveni signed peace agreements with various defunct rebel groups except the West Nile Bank Front but later an amicable end to the rebellion was reached with a pledge of peace dividends and one of the key provisions was resettlement packages for ex-combatants.
Now, speaking to the press at the Uganda Media Centre, the State Minister in Charge of Veteran Affairs, Huda Oleru Abason revealed that cabinet on 25th April 2024 approved the payment of Sh5.1bn to these former rebels in this financial year and this will commence on May 8th, 2024 in Koboko district.
She also reveals that the cabinet also approved payment of Shs21bn to Uganda National Rescue Front I which was led by Gen. Moses Ali and other residual individuals from the Uganda National Rescue Front II led by Maj. Gen. Ali Bamuze in the coming financial year 2024/25.
Abson said the initial step in the process of effecting the payments commenced with mobilization 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.