Chua West Member of Parliament Simon Peter Oryema Adum has challenged the government to expedite compensation for approximately 15,000 registered landmine victims in Kitgum district, saying many have waited nearly two decades without receiving any payment.

Raising a Matter of National Importance on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Oryema said the victims were registered in 2007 and were expected to receive between shs3 million and shs5 million each in compensation.

However, he said none of the registered victims had been compensated, despite the passage of years, raising questions about the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of people affected by landmines in the Acholi sub-region.

Oryema also questioned the apparent disparity between the delayed compensation for landmine victims and government efforts to compensate other affected groups with livestock.

“I don’t know how we differentiate humanity and a cow,” Oryema said, expressing frustration over the prolonged wait for compensation by the victims.

The legislator’s concerns highlight the challenges faced by communities in northern Uganda that continue to seek redress for injuries and losses associated with past conflicts.

Defence Ministry cites verification challenges

Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, State Minister for Defence Akifeza Grace Ngabirano said the government was verifying the lists of claimants before proceeding with compensation.

Ngabirano explained that the affected districts had submitted differing lists, making it necessary to establish a harmonised register of eligible beneficiaries.

She said the President had directed the relevant authorities to develop a unified list that would guide the government’s decision on compensation.

The minister added that the verification process was ongoing and that the list of claimants was on her desk for review.

However, she did not announce a specific date when the verification would be completed or when payments would begin.

Tayebwa pushes for compensation in next budget

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who presided over the sitting, sought assurances from the minister on whether there was hope for the victims to receive compensation.

Ngabirano reiterated that she was working on the list and that the government would need to determine the resources required after verification.

In a light-hearted remark, Tayebwa said Parliament would pray for the minister to secure the money needed to compensate the affected people.

The Deputy Speaker subsequently tasked the minister to expedite the verification process so that compensation for eligible victims could be considered in the next budget cycle.

The intervention puts pressure on the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to resolve the discrepancies in the claimant lists and provide a clear path towards payment.

For the affected families, the outstanding concerns remain whether the verification exercise will be completed in time for the next budget and whether the government will allocate sufficient funds to honour the compensation commitment.

The proposed compensation of shs3 million to shs5 million per claimant, as cited by Oryema, would amount to approximately shs45 billion to shs75 billion if all 15,000 claimants were verified and qualified for payment at those rates.

The government has yet to confirm the final number of eligible beneficiaries, the applicable compensation rates or the total budget required.

For victims who registered in 2007, the latest parliamentary discussion has renewed attention on a long-standing demand for compensation and the need for a definite timeline for resolving their claims.