Government has pledged to verify and process compensation for the families of Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives while serving under the African Union mission in Somalia.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja made the commitment during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in Parliament on Thursday, with the sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
The assurance followed concerns raised by Kilak South County MP, Hon. Gilbert Olanya, over delayed payments and unpaid arrears for Ugandan troops deployed in Somalia.
Olanya said while many Ugandan soldiers had served the country diligently during the peacekeeping mission, some had returned home without receiving their full entitlements, while others were killed in the line of duty.
“We have our sons and daughters who work diligently in Somalia. Others are brought back. Unfortunately, others were killed. I would like to know the government plan in paying the arrears of those ones who were not paid from Somalia up to now,” Olanya said.
Responding, Nabbanja said government had engaged the African Union (AU) and international partners to address delays in payments to Ugandan peacekeepers.
She revealed that, on the President’s directive, she travelled to Ethiopia in February this year to meet officials of the African Union and discuss the matter.
According to the Prime Minister, the engagement yielded positive results, enabling the AU and its partners to support Uganda in clearing outstanding payments owed to the soldiers.
She, however, requested Parliament to provide details of soldiers who died during the mission to facilitate the compensation process.
“I would like to get the names of those people who were affected, especially those who died while on duty, so that the process of compensation can be done properly,” Nabbanja said.
Government responds to looming famine
During the same session, the Prime Minister said government is preparing emergency interventions to address the looming famine in parts of Northern Uganda and water shortages affecting cattle corridor areas.
Agago County MP Hon. Edward Makmot warned that communities in the Greater North were experiencing severe food shortages, with some people already facing starvation.
Nabbanja said Karamoja had experienced prolonged drought, with some areas receiving no rainfall since April. She added that government had prepared a Cabinet Paper on the situation and would expand its assessment as reports emerge from other affected regions.
She said the Ministry of Agriculture, together with local governments, is implementing interventions including the distribution and promotion of quick-maturing crop varieties to boost food production.
The Prime Minister also responded to concerns raised by Older Persons Representative Hon. James Kakooza over the impact of climate change on cattle corridors, saying government had convened a meeting involving the ministries of Water, Agriculture and Local Government to coordinate a response.
She said available water bowsers would be deployed to provide emergency water supplies to affected communities and pastoralists during the dry season.
“The few water bowsers in the country will be provided so that the communities can survive during this period,” Nabbanja said.
