Arua City, Uganda: Community leaders in the West Nile sub-region have urged war victims and survivors to register under a structured verification process aimed at facilitating government-backed compensation for losses suffered during past conflicts.
The call was led by Lemeriga Fadhil, Prime Minister of Aringa Kingdom and Head of Corporate Affairs at the West Nile Compensation Advocacy Network, who emphasized the need for accurate data to support formal engagement with government.
“We have experienced significant challenges due to the insurgencies of 1979, the 1980s, and subsequent periods,” Lemeriga said. “As people of West Nile, we believe in working together constructively so that our concerns can be properly addressed through lawful channels.”
He urged all affected individuals to cooperate with the ongoing registration exercise to ensure proper documentation of victims.
“My call is for every victim and every resident of West Nile to cooperate with the West Nile Compensation Advocacy Network. This will enable us to verify the true number of affected individuals, process the lists accurately, and forward them to the Office of the Prime Minister for further consideration,” he added.
Registration exercise and structure
The West Nile Compensation Advocacy Network, established in October 2025, is spearheading the verification process as part of broader efforts to secure reparations through peaceful and structured engagement.
Lemeriga revealed that registration teams will be deployed across all districts in the sub-region. Participants will be required to pay a registration fee of Shs10,000, with Shs5,000 allocated to a regional SACCO initiative and the remaining Shs5,000 supporting administrative processes.
He described the exercise as critical for ensuring transparency and fairness in identifying legitimate beneficiaries.
Community leaders have also encouraged residents to embrace unity and collective participation, noting that the region’s diversity should serve as a strength in advancing shared interests.
West Nile war claimants include survivors and families affected by multiple conflicts, including insurgencies in the 1979 and 1980s periods, as well as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in the 1990s.
Notably, historical incidents such as the Ombaci massacre of June 21, 1981, remain central to the region’s call for justice and recognition.
Estimates indicate that at least 1,102 individuals lost their lives, sustained permanent injuries, or suffered significant property losses—including money, merchandise, and vehicles—during attacks and ambushes between 1992 and 1997.
The compensation push aligns with ongoing national efforts to address post-conflict recovery across northern Uganda.
In October 2025, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the Office of the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, and relevant ministries to verify claims and explore ex-gratia payments for affected households.
Earlier, in April 2025, State Minister for Northern Uganda Dr Kenneth Omona confirmed a government allocation of Shs150 billion to compensate livestock losses in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.
Leaders in West Nile now hope the verification exercise will ensure their region is equally considered in the national compensation framework.
Community leaders expressed optimism that a transparent and inclusive process will not only deliver justice to victims but also strengthen national unity and long-term peace.
They reiterated that the registration process is a crucial first step toward ensuring that all affected individuals are recognized and fairly compensated.
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