Yumbe, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has committed to pay UGX 13 billion out of the UGX 26 billion owed to ex-servicemen in the West Nile region beginning with the next financial year 2025/2026.
The announcement was made public by State Minister for Investment and Privatization Evelyn Anite via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account hailing the development as both gratifying and transformative for a region long haunted by war and neglect.
This presidential promise delivered during celebrations tied to Peace Day commemorations in Yumbe District aims to honor a debt owed to former fighters and security personnel who were instrumental during the turbulent post-Amin era and later insurgencies.
Many of these ex-servicemen have waited for decades to be recognized and compensated by the government.
“We are not only grateful to you, Mr. President, but also excited for this development and all the infrastructure development projects in West Nile,” Anite posted.
The West Nile region historically marginalized and assaulted by armed conflict and political instability has often been left behind in national economic priorities.
Ex-servicemen many of whom served under UNLF, Uganda National Rescue Front and other forces during the 1980s and 1990s, have repeatedly petitioned for pensions and gratuity settlements citing the trauma and poverty they’ve endured post-service.
The UGX 13 billion that is to be release next year signals a partial fulfillment of a longstanding government obligation.
According to officials familiar with the negotiations, the payout will cover the first batch of vetted beneficiaries with the balance UGX 13 billion expected in the subsequent fiscal year.
Museveni’s financial pledge was also tied to broader development conversations with infrastructure expansion projects in West Nile reportedly in the pipeline. These include the Arua-Gulu highway, upgrades to health centers and new investments in agricultural mechanization and solar electrification.
The timing of this pledge months ahead of the 2026 general elections has sparked both hope and political debate, with critics asking why it took so long.
Nonetheless, the announcement has reignited optimism among veterans and community leaders across Yumbe, Moyo, Arua, Koboko, and Zombo.
While the UGX 13 billion allocation offers renewed hope, transparency in disbursement and veteran verification to follow through will be critical to the success of the initiative.
Also Read: Gen. Kale Kayihura Honored in Yumbe for Restoring Peace in West Nile at Peace Day Anniversary
