War debt claimants split after rift in sharing cash

Bickering. The members, who claim they are the right representatives of the claimants, have sought services of another legal company to recover the Shs750m given to the ‘wrong’ group.

A group of 16 disgruntled members of Acholi War Debt Claimants Association have ceased dealings with the main body and its legal representatives over claims of gross mismanagement and corruption.
The faction headed by Mr Norbert Adyera, the former chairperson of the association, in a press briefing on Tuesday alleged that a Kampala legal firm breached the contract by paying Shs750m of the claimants’ money to a ‘wrong’ group led by Eng. Noah Opwonya, the current chairperson.

“They are not the representatives of the association, so the money went to wrong hands which we object,” Mr Adyera said.

He said 18 members of the association, including himself are the rightful claimants representing all the registered members of the association, after being appointed by court.

Mr Adyera said they have sought the services of Muwema, Mugerwa and Company Advocates to recover the Shs750 million.

“We have asked them to compute the total amount of money to be paid to the claimants and when payment will take place,” Mr Adyera said.
He claims he was fired with his executive by a group of association members in 2008 over mismanagement.

The government recently released Shs5 billion to pay the claimants but the money is said to be kept by the Kampala lawyers.

Mr Adyera, however, said they also want the Shs5 billion directed to Gulu High Court so that it is paid to the claimants in transparently. manner.
Eng. Opwonya, however, said the Adyera’s ‘rebel’ group was acting irregularly.

He said they are already planning to pay the elder members first “and when more money is released, we then move on to pay the other members of the association”.

Efforts to get comments from advocates in Kampala were futile although Eng. Opwonya said the firm remains their legal representative.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com