Lango leaders deny receiving 46.6 billion in war debt compensation

11 June 2025, 9:21 am

By Ceaser Odongo

Leaders in the Lango sub-region have denied reports that the government has spent over UGX 46.6 billion on war debt compensation in the area.

This comes in response to claims by the Lango War Debt Claimants Association, which recently stated that more than UGX 46.6 billion had been disbursed to benefit over 20,000 claimants in the region.

David Kennedy Odongo, Chairperson of the Lango LCV District Chairpersons and Mayors’ Forum, refuted the report. He stated that there is no evidence that such an amount has been received in the region. According to Odongo, district leaders lack documentation to support the claim, and there are no visible socio-economic impacts reflecting such a substantial injection of funds.

Similarly, the Lira District LC5 Chairperson, RCM Okello Orik, echoed these concerns, noting that despite claims that Lira received the largest share—UGX 12.8 billion, or 27.61%, benefiting 7,356 individuals—there is no noticeable impact on the ground.

Okello Orik urged the government to consider compensating all affected households in Lango, not just those who went to court.

However, Mr. Ogwang Adonyo, Coordinator of the Lango War Claimants Association, maintains that the government has injected over UGX 46.6 billion into the sub-region since 2021, when the compensation program began. According to his report, a total of 20,742 individuals have benefited so far.