Minister attributes delayed veterans’ pension to dormant accounts

State Minister for Veterans Bright Rwamirama. Photo by Stephen Otage

What you need to know:

  • 83, 183 – the veterans not yet paid
  • Shs536.461 billion – money needed to pay them
  • 57, 026 – veterans so far ‘paid’ their benefits
  • 28, 436 – did not qualify to be paid because their records were forged; it is still not clear by who

Kampala. The State Minister for Veterans, Bright Rwamirama, has attributed the delayed payment of veterans' pension to invalid or dormant bank accounts.

That, he said, has led to “bounced payments”.

To compound the matter, many discharged themselves from the army, Lt. Col (Rtd) Rwamirama said on Tuesday, February 22 at Parliament in Kampala.

“Many veterans whose benefits have been processed have not received their benefits because of their invalid or dormant accounts,” Lt. Col. Rwamirama said.

To address the matter, he said, “The ministry has agreed with the relevant banks to validate and reactivate previously dormant accounts to enable the beneficiaries to access their benefits.”

He however did not explain why it has taken the ministry this long to engage the banks to activate the dormant accounts.

The matter (delay to pay veterans) was first brought to the attention of the House by Aswa Member of Parliament Reagan Okumu.

According Lt. Col. Rwamirama, the government will from March start paying the veterans their pensions.

The payment will be staggered over three financial years, starting this fiscal year.

However, Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo, said since the Veterans Ministry does not even have money to finance its activities, the veterans should not think they will be paid soon.

The Kinkizi West Member of Parliament, James Ruugi Niringiyimana, said “many veterans have died before the government pays them their benefits.”

“Others are waiting. When will you pay these people?” Mr Ruugi said.

The state minister said though the Central Government in 2014 decentralised the payment of pensions, the Public Service Ministry still retains pension authority.

“That leads to the delay in the movement of files from the retirees’ parent ministries to Finance to the banks. And that delays payment of the veterans.”

Mr Okumu questioned whose interest the Uganda People’s Defence Force representatives in Parliament serve.

He noted that the plight of the veterans is always brought to the attention of the House by directly elected MPs.

Mr Okumu also queried the number of veterans the government claims it has far paid.