Uganda Today Edition: NUP Signs MoU with Teso War Claimants, Vows to Pursue Justice for Victims of 1980s Conflicts
By Uganda Today Correspondent
www.ugandatoday.co.ug | May 27, 2025
In a bold move signaling its growing engagement with historically marginalised communities, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with thousands of war claimants from Teso Sub-region, vowing to seek justice for victims of the devastating conflicts that wracked the area in the 1980s.
During a well-attended gathering held in Teso, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) met with elders and survivors, most of whom lost their families, cattle, and property during the insurgencies that followed the fall of the Obote II regime. For decades, these war victims have been pushing the Ugandan government for reparations and compensation, which have largely remained unfulfilled despite repeated promises by President Yoweri Museveni’s administration.
“Many of these elders were once prosperous, but were reduced to poverty and trauma because of war. The regime has lied to them for over 40 years,” said Kyagulanyi. “Even when little money has been released, it has been mismanaged or siphoned off to regime cronies.”
The MoU, signed publicly before community members, outlines NUP’s commitment to lobbying for compensation and delivering justice to war-affected citizens should the party assume power. It also includes provisions for continued collaboration with local leaders in the Teso region to document victims’ testimonies, mobilize support, and advocate for inclusive national reconciliation.
A Symbolic Beginning
As a symbol of hope and a gesture of solidarity, NUP handed over seven calves to selected elders among the war claimants. The gesture was hailed as a small but significant act meant to rejuvenate the devastated lives of families who had lost all their livestock and livelihood during the war.
“The calves symbolize a new beginning. We are not just here to talk, but to walk the journey with our people,” said Hon. Julius Ocen, a senior NUP leader from the region and one of the lead organisers of the event.
The claimants, many of them elderly and in failing health, expressed both gratitude and deep frustration at the decades of neglect by the government.
“We have waited too long. Many of our people have died waiting for justice. But this MoU gives us new strength,” said one elder during the ceremony.
Long History of Unfulfilled Promises
The Ugandan government has previously acknowledged the legitimacy of compensation claims in war-affected regions like Teso, Acholi, and Lango, where government forces and rebel militias caused widespread devastation. However, critics argue that selective compensation and political patronage have plagued the process.
Past efforts to disburse funds have been mired in allegations of corruption, favoritism, and politicization, often leaving the most vulnerable victims empty-handed. Some leaders from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have allegedly used compensation as a tool for political gain, distributing funds to loyalists while ignoring legitimate claimants.
NUP’s engagement with the Teso claimants could mark a strategic deepening of the party’s national footprint beyond Buganda and the central region, especially as it positions itself for broader national leadership ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Support for NUP
The war claimants pledged their full support to NUP and its mission to dismantle what they termed a “criminal and deceitful regime.”
“We are tired of waiting for Museveni’s lies. We believe in your message of change, and we will support NUP to bring justice not just to us, but to all Ugandans,” said another elder at the event.
Uganda Today will continue to monitor developments as NUP and Teso elders operationalize the MoU and launch follow-up initiatives aimed at documenting and addressing long-standing war claims.
For further updates, visit www.ugandatoday.co.ug
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