Government to audit cattle compensation money

By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Lira

Lango war claimants’ lawyer Adams Makmot Kibwanga has welcomed a resolution of parliament to audit the shs 50 billion that was earmarked for cattle compensation in Lango, Acholi and Teso.

On Thursday, the speaker of parliament Anette Anitta Among directed the prime minister to institute an audit to ascertain how shilling fifty billion cattle compensation money was benefited by Lango, Acholi and Teso war claimants.

Last financial year, the government released shillings 50 billion for the three sub-regions to compensate war claimants after the program was launched by the president in Soroti University.

During and after compensation, a number of claimants were concerned that they were getting little money which was not commensurate with their claims.

Anitta Among said there is need for the government to conduct an audit on the shillings 50 billion disbursed last financial year before another release could be made.

Makmot Kibwanga said he was also not convinced with the process of cattle compensation and welcomed parliament’s resolution to audit the same

Makmot blamed this on the government for sidelining claimants’ lawyers  from the compensation process because initially money for compensation was channeled to the claimants lawyer’s account and disbursed to the beneficiaries.  However, the government started paying the money to claimants through the office of the attorney general.

In response to the resolution of parliament, Prime Minister Robbina Nabanjja said she will ask the attorney general to ensure a comprehensive audit is conducted and a report is presented to parliament