Pallisa, Uganda: At least 1,500 people out of more than 7,000 claimants in Pallisa District have been identified to benefit from government compensation for cattle and property lost during the mid-1980s insurgencies.
Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. Dhikusooka Magidu cautioned beneficiaries against bribery and corruption during the processing of claims, warning that anyone caught soliciting or offering money would be prosecuted.
“Some of you may try to bribe so that your forms are given priority. This money is from government, and President Museveni, who heads the Executive, wants it to reach rightful beneficiaries without any charge,” Dhikusooka said, urging transparency.
He further advised the claimants to adhere to procedures, adding that the funds should not only bring relief but also remind communities to support President Museveni in the coming elections.
Pallisa Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Okia Patrick, clarified that eligibility is restricted to those born by 1969, with relatives of deceased beneficiaries required to secure letters of administration. He emphasized that the official compensation cards are pink, serial-numbered, and issued by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, warning against duplication.
“Don’t attempt to duplicate or give your spouse or brother the forms, because only those who qualify by age will benefit. If both apply fraudulently, the system will detect and cancel them,” Okia said.
Dr. Roem Otodo, who is part of the verification team, urged families pursuing compensation for deceased relatives to first obtain proper letters of administration from court. He advised beneficiaries to open accounts in banks of their choice but cautioned them against frequent inquiries until transactions are officially communicated.
However, discontent was raised by Mr. Robert Okuni from Apopong Sub-county, who criticized the uniform compensation of UGX 5 million per claimant. He argued that the scheme unfairly equates those who lost a large herd of cattle with those who had very few.
“It is unfair for a person who had 45 heads of cattle to be equated to one with two, yet during graduated tax we paid according to the number of property one had,” Okuni lamented.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
