Oboth-Oboth cautions Ex-combatants not to view resettlement package as entitlement

The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, has cautioned former combatants of the defunct West Nile Bank Front (WNBF) not to regard the resettlement package they have received as an entitlement or a business opportunity.

The Minister made the remarks on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the launch of the commencement sh5.1 billion payment to 4,901 former combatants of the defunct West Nile Bank Front at Koboko District Headquarters.

Oboth-Oboth added that this gesture is a fulfilment of the President and Commander-in-Chief’s pledge to the people of West Nile, marking a significant milestone in the pacification of the region and the resettlement of former combatants into civilian life.

The minister urged the people of West Nile to embrace reconciliation as a form of justice, enabling former combatants to contribute positively to their communities and promote social cohesion.

The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), Huda Oleru Abason, thanked the former combatants for voluntarily laying down their arms at Kerila, Yumbe District, which marked a symbolic turning point in ending insurgencies in the region.

Oleru reminded the gathering that the West Nile sub-region suffered immensely following the fall of the Idi Amin regime in 1979, with many rebels going into exile, leading to insurgencies that continued into the post-1986 liberation period.

 Dr Charles Ayume, the Chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, applauded the President for his efforts to pacify the country.

In attendance were: officials and staff from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Members of Parliament, Resident District Commissioners, District Chairpersons, senior officers, and other leaders from the West Nile region.