OMORO: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has lashed at the opposition for allegedly spreading malicious lies that the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM Party has diverted cattle compensation cash to finance the campaigns of its candidate in the Omoro county Parliamentary by-election.
According to Museveni, the money meant to pay people who lost their cattle during insurgencies in Omoro district and Acholi Sub-region and other areas is readily available and urged the locals to disregard the opposition lies.
Museveni was on Tuesday reacting to allegations that the opposition was misleading locals that NRM was using money meant for their compensation to bankroll the campaigns of the NRM candidate, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah.
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The President who was campaigning for Ojok at Odek Primary school in Odek Sub-county noted that although the compensation has been delayed, the Attorney General is conducting verification to confirm the rightful beneficiaries before payment is made.
His statement comes at the backdrop of complaints from war debt claimants in the region over delayed compensation for the cattle they lost in various insurgencies in the region. Last year, the government earmarked Shillings 150 billion to pay war debt claimants in Acholi, Lango, and Teso Sub-region.
Omoro in particular was allocated Shillings 1.7 billion to compensate the claimants but to date, the beneficiaries haven’t received a penny. Grace Kwiyucwyiny, the State Minister for Northern Uganda who was summoned by the President to clarify the cattle compensation cash noted that the Acholi Sub-region, in general, has been allocated Shillings 50 billion for this financial year 2021/22.
She however noted that the districts in, which verification of the war debt claimants by the Attorney General had been completed are already receiving their cash.
The President told Ojok that the people of Omoro have entrusted him to complete his late father’s term in Parliament and he should exhibit his capability so that he is elected in his own capacity later. He urged Ojok to be clear on his plans and how he will help the people of Omoro District, arguing that it’s much easier to develop the country when there is clarity.
The LC V Chairperson of Omoro district, Douglas Peter Okello highlighted challenges the district is faced with that need financial support from the government. According to Okello, a number of roads have been cut off but haven’t been fixed due to the meager allocation from Uganda Road Fund.
He also called for financial support to turn the defunct nodding syndrome center in Odek Sub-county into a special needs school and Health center III and the construction of a Technical School in the same sub-county.
In response, the President pledged to tarmac the Gulu-Moroto road, establish a soya beans processing plant and construct a Technical School in Odek Sub-county in memory of FRONASA members. He appealed to the people of Omoro to vote for the NRM party candidate in the coming election so that he continues with the work of his late father Oulanyah.
After his first rally, Museveni visited the home of Oulanyah where he paid his respect at his grave and met with the deceased’s father Nathan Okori. In his address to his supporters, Ojok lauded the President for entrusting his late father with various leadership positions and for the enormous support he extended to the family while he was sick and after his death.
Campaigns for the Omoro County Parliamentary seat, which attracted six contenders including Ojok ended Tuesday. The By-election is slated for May 26.
