Otuke, Uganda | Otuke East Member of Parliament, Julius Acon Bua, has firmly dismissed circulating claims that he advised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni not to compensate Lango war debt claimants, describing the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Acon’s rebuttal follows a high-level meeting held at State House on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, between President Museveni and selected leaders from northern Uganda.
The MP stated that the session provided an opportunity for regional representatives to present issues affecting their constituencies, and during the discussions, he specifically raised the longstanding concern of delayed cattle compensation in Otuke District and Lango Subregion.
He said he informed the President that more than 85% of war claimants in Otuke had never received compensation, basing his remarks on research he personally conducted while distributing maize seeds in the constituency.
Acon explained that some individuals had manipulated the compensation process by submitting fraudulent claims with grossly inflated livestock numbers—some listing as many as 500 to 800 cattle.
He noted that in many cases, the claimants never actually owned such numbers and that some had gone as far as selling data cards, resulting in repeated payouts to a select group of beneficiaries.
To address the irregularities, Acon said he proposed a new model to President Museveni, recommending that all legitimate claimants aged 18 and above—both married and unmarried—should be compensated with a flat rate of four cattle, specifically two bulls and two cows.
According to Acon, the president welcomed the idea and acknowledged that corruption had become a serious problem within the compensation system.
He added that President Museveni had promised to hold consultations with the Attorney General, district chairpersons from Lango, Acholi, and Teso sub-regions, along with other stakeholders, to find a better approach to handling compensation for victims of past insurgencies.
Acon argued that the new approach would promote fairness and help prevent abuse of the system.
He expressed concern that while many genuine claimants continued to die without receiving justice, the same individuals were benefiting repeatedly through fraudulent practices.
He condemned the claims suggesting that he was working against the interests of the people of Otuke, asserting that those spreading such propaganda were the same individuals who had previously filed exaggerated claims and were now unsettled by his push for accountability.
Cattle compensation remains a contentious issue in northern Uganda, where many communities continue to feel the economic impact of past conflicts.
Regional leaders have persistently called on the government to expedite the process and ensure equitable restitution for all verified claimants.
Acon urged residents of Otuke and the greater Lango sub-region to remain calm and united, assuring them of his unwavering commitment to justice and fairness in the compensation process.
