Mbabazi assures UNRF ex-combatants on pay

Mr Mbabazi displays his manifesto to supporters in Yumbe Town yesterday. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO.

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Deserving. Mr Mbabazi says the ex-combatants’ contribution to the nation and the restoration of peace in the sub-region should be recognised.

YUMBE. Independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi has assured the ex-combatants of Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) that their gratuity will be paid should he be elected president.


Ex-combatants of UNRF I which was led by Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali and UNRF II that was commanded by the late Gen Ali Bamuze, who are concentrated in Yumbe District, have in the past been demanding their gratuity.
Speaking at Yumbe Boma grounds yesterday, Mr Mbabazi said: “These people who fought in Uganda Army, Uganda National Liberation Army and the UNRF of Ali Bamuze and Gen Moses Ali, will be paid because they made a contribution to this country.”


One of the ex-combatants who fought Museveni’s regime with UNRF II, Mr Noah Acikule, said the promise of payment is a welcome gesture. He, however, pointed out that while some of their fellow combatants had been paid, others died before they could receive the benefits. To the latter group, he said, their relatives could still get the money.
Mbabazi emphasised that there is need to instill a spirit of reconciliation among citizens and called for an end to name calling and demonising those who served in the past regimes.


“We should stop saying that this was Amin’s or Obote’s soldier or civil servant. I want to be the president of people who will feel that they are all part of Uganda,” he explained.


During his recent campaign in the sub-region, for re-election for a fifth term, Mr Yoweri Museveni said the ex-combatants and servicemen were catered for because government service provisions were for everyone.
In the past elections, the bitterness of the ex-combatants who were not paid was exploited by the Opposition to win in the sub-region. The Opposition argued that the ruling party had neglected them.


The sub-region has hundreds of ex-combatants who fought in the various armies and rebel groups that fought against Museveni’s regime in its nascent years. However, Mr Mbabazi did not disclose how much his government will allocate to the payment of the ex-soldiers’ gratuity.


Meanwhile, on Monday Mr Mbabazi canvassed for support in Moyo District. Just like Mr Museveni did when he campaigned in the area, Mr Mbabazi promised to tarmac the Yumbe-Moyo-Adjumani Road.
The road has been a contentious issue in the past because it links businessmen in the sub-region to the market in neighbouring South Sudan from Nimule side. Speaking during a rally at Mayor’s Garden in Moyo, Mr Mbabazi said he would ensure that the road is tarmacked to promote smooth transportation of goods and services.
The road linking to South Sudan through Afoji border post has been in a bad state and becomes gullied during the rainy seasons.


Traders spend long hours on the stretch and in some cases have lost their goods that perish before reaching the market when trucks get stuck in the mud. The Go Forward presidential candidate noted that Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo road would also be tarmacked in order to enable easy transportation of goods and services.
On November 20 last year, during a rally in Moyo, Mr Museveni also promised to have the Yumbe-Moyo-Adjumani road tarmacked. At that time, the MP for Moyo West, Mr Tom Aza, had asked the President about his plan for the key roads in the region.


The MP said the construction of Atiak-Moyo-Afoji road would also be a great contribution of government because several vehicles get stuck on the road during the rainy season and goods perish causing great loss to traders.
During the rally, Mr Mbabazi also outlined several of the promises in his manifesto but mostly emphasised creation of model sub-counties. He pledged to fight corruption which he said cripples service delivery to taxpayers.