The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Huda Abason Oleru, has said that some ex-combatants from the Defunct of West Nile Bank Front have experienced payment delays due to submitting incorrect national identity cards.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you the Honorable Member of Parliament from Koboko district for asking that question. The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has paid the West Nile Bank front, and we are still in the process of concluding the payment,” the Minister explained.
Oleru stated this during the Prime Minister’s Time on Thursday, 15 August 2024, following a question raised by the Koboko District Woman Representative, Taban Hon. Sharifa Aate, about the delayed payments to veterans from West Nile, especially those from her district.
“I want to thank you very much for coming through for our veterans in West Nile, especially those from Koboko. However, some of my veterans missed – I am now the lawyer in my office, and they are always coming to my office demanding to know when shall they be paid,” Hon. Aate noted.
The Minister explained that for those who have not been paid, the issue has been on their side because they have not provided all their details, such as account numbers and correct National identity numbers. The ministry experienced payment bounce-backs due to some beneficiaries using incorrect identity card numbers and bank account details of relatives.
Background
The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), the Honorable Huda Abason Oleru, announced in May that the Government of the Republic of Uganda was set to pay Uganda Shillings 5.1 billion (Ugx 5.1bn) to 4,901 ex-combatants of the defunct West Nile Bank Front.
This was after the Cabinet approved the funds on 25 April 2024 to settle WNBF this financial year and UGX 21 billion to Uganda National Rescue Front I (UNRFI) and other residual individuals from UNRFII, which will be paid in the budget for the financial year 2024/2025.
