The Amuka militia members gather in Lira town in 2012. Photo credit: Daily Monitor.
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Last Updated on: 20th December 2018, 03:10 pm
Fifteen years down the road, Uganda government is yet to reward her former Amuka soldiers it retired four years after service.
Mobilized by Lango stakeholders into a strong auxiliary force of more than 7000 people, both men and women, the Amuka militia fought Lord Resistance Army [LRA] rebels alongside Uganda People’s Defense Forces and kicked out Joseph Kony out of Lango sub- region.
The Dokolo South MP, Felix Okot Ogong and senior presidential advisor to president Museveni on political affairs in Lango, Mr. Franco Ojur who at that time was the LC5 chairman Lira district were among some leaders who mobilized young boys and girls to join local force in 2003. This was the peak moment of the insurgency caused by LRA rebels.
Denis Omin who hails from Amach sub-county in Lira district is the current chairman of the former Amuka militia. He tells TND News Uganda that government did not deliver their promise of retirement benefits after their discharge in 2007.
“When we were recruited, government promised us a monthly salary of Uganda shilling 60,000 which we received, some in arrears, and there was also a promise of two oxen and an ox plough as retirement benifts, which we have not seen to date,” Omin said.
This, he says prompted the group to lodge a civil suit against the government in 2012 at Lira High Court. In this suit, the former Amuka militias now want court to compel government to deliver on their promise of two oxen each, an ox plough and a general damage of Uganda shilling 5m for each of them.
Through Mike Abwang Otim, of Abwang Otim and Company Advocates, they want to legally squeeze out their retirement benefits from government.
The case which has been on for the last six years could still be a long hurdle, according to Mike Abwang.
“Our files have gone missing from Lira High Court several times,” Counsel Abwang says.
He stated that this case against the government of Uganda was to resume at Lira High Court on 6th December 2018 before Resident High Court Judge, Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji but flopped and a new date has not been scheduled.
“Court says this is to give time to the claimants to properly file their affidavits,” Mr. Abwang added.
However this has left some of the claimants who turned up in court early this year helpless and wondering if they will live to receive their benefits.
“I am worried about this postponement of the case, I don’t know if we shall see justice, some of our colleagues have already passed on and their entitlements could help their families,” Juilo Odongo, a former Amuka combatant and a resident of Barr sub-county wondered.
In an exclusive interview with this contemporary news website on Thursday afternoon, Felix Okot Ogong – the Dokolo South Member of Parliament who also doubles as Chairperson Lango Parliamentary Group says all documents have been submitted to government – President Museveni and Prime Minster for consideration.
Mr. Okot – known as one of the pioneer leaders who mobilized Lango natives to fight against LRA rebels, added: “They left their families for a long time and they have to be compensated. It’s an ex-gratia support to them and the President has a privilege to give them and to thank them for the work.”
According to LPG chairperson – the money being demanded from government to compensate the Amuka Militias is “between Uganda shilling 11 billion to 14 billion”.
On the alleged missing files, he says: “The files can’t get lost. If it’s, then that is connivance, their lawyer must trace for it.”
Reporting by Frank Oyugi and Milton Akwam
