Lango war claimants plan demonstration as Museveni expects delegation for talks

A total of 169,000 claimants under the Lango War Claimants Association have organised a peaceful demonstration scheduled for Monday, September 22, 2025.

The demonstration, the organisers said, is against the continued delay of compensation for both non-combatant and other claimants. The group alleges that some of their leaders have turned the issue into a political football, further complicating the matter.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Life Line Guest House in Lira City, Dickness Etum, the Lango sub-region coordinator for the claimants, lamented that recent statements made by Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua on the radio concerning the compensation were misrepresentative.

Etum stated that Obua’s position was not the right one and did not reflect the voice of the Lango people.

He also rejected the composition of a recent delegation of leaders sent to meet the President. He argued that they were not the right beneficiaries, emphasising that despite a court ruling in their favour in 2014, the government has consistently failed to implement the court’s decision.

Another regional coordinator, Sam Obua, accused Obua and Dr Jane Ruth Aceng of introducing political implications into the project and called for an apology from both.

He firmly rejected the statement by Obua made on the radio, stating it was not the voice of the Lango people. “For that matter, we have scheduled Monday, September 22, 2025, to hold a peaceful demonstration over the delay… we need this compensation before the election; if not, ‘No Cow, No Votes’,” he declared.

According to the organisers, the march will begin from the Lango cultural centre, proceed via Obote Avenue and the Uhuru Bar roundabout, and culminate at the former Akii Bua Stadium in Lira City.

There, they will express their grievances about the ways certain Members of Parliament have allegedly politicised the program.

Fred Mike Apita, chairperson for Lango War Reparation Association (LAWARA) expressed his disappointment that a delegation of claimants’ leaders was blocked from presenting their statement to the President at Lango College.

Apita questioned why Lango claimants are being restricted from such meetings while other regions like Teso and Acholi have been allowed to bring over 200 members each.

He warned leaders who are spearheading meetings with the President against introducing excessive political implications, arguing they are acting on their own will and not the President’s directive. “Therefore, we shall not vote for all the NRM flag bearers in Lango,” he warned.

Rose Achola, a coordinator from Ogur in Lira district, stated that the demonstration is intended to show the government that Ministers Obua, Aceng, and MP Julius Acon have deeply interfered in the compensation matter.

“These are the leaders who are going to spoil President Yoweri Museveni’s votes here in the Lango sub-region,” she said.

She added that as leaders who dragged the government to court and won, it is frustrating that since the 2014 ruling, not a single claimant has received compensation.

Meanwhile, the Alebtong district chairperson, who also serves as the chairperson for all Lango district chairpersons, DK Odongo, challenged leaders over the excessive politicisation of the issue.

Odongo noted that he was among those invited to the recent meeting but expressed concern that if a list circulating on social media of purported beneficiaries is authentic, it signifies that Lango cannot progress like other regions due to the political games of its leaders.

“Lango War claimants’ compensation is the engine for the people of Lango, and it is not for individual persons,” he stressed.

Last week, Denis Hamson Obua announced the proposed names of the delegation to meet the President at State House Entebbe. The names include top businessmen in Lira City, including retired politicians.

While meeting Lango leaders on August 17 at Lango College playgrounds, President Museveni directed the formation of a 20-member delegation for further cattle compensation talks at State House.