You’re alone, Lango leaders tell lawyer over claims petition to Museveni

Lira. Leaders from Lango Sub-region have disowned Lira based lawyer Adam Makmot Kibwanga’s petition to President Museveni over compensation of lost animals during the two decade war in northern Uganda.
Mr Kibwanga through his law firm; Makmot Kibwanga and Company Advocates asked the President to moderate an honest and transparent compensation process.
“Be wary of reports availed to you in the absence of all stakeholders in the compensation process as some of them are doctored. Include all of us in the discussion because we have been in the thick of it. Let the beneficiaries feel it so that relations are restored among all regions of the country to ensure peace in our immediate future and posterity,” Mr Kibwanga wrote.
Describing himself as a victim and lawyer for Lango War Claimants Association, Mr Kibwanga suggested that the compensation process should be audited for local content to include lawyers who understand the local content.
However, the leaders led by the Presidential Advisor on Lango political affairs, Mr Levi Macio Okodi, the leaders described Mr Kibwanga as an opportunist and that his views are personal.
According to Mr Okodi, the rightful beneficiaries have since been verified by the authorities as per the High Court judgment where Mr Kibwanga was not among the legal representatives in the matter.
In July 2014, Lira High Court ordered for a joint verification of claimants to allow court make orders.
The court order followed a case in which six people led by Mr Deylon Johnson Wilson sued the Attorney General by a representative action on behalf of about 69,745 people from Lira, Apac, Oyam, Dokolo, Alebtong, Amolatar and Kole.
Mr Okodi said that Mr Kibwanga is only peddling lies because he is not the selected lawyer for the matter.
“We have no complaint against the lawyers representing the beneficiaries and the history provided in the petition is false,” he added.
Mr Kibwanga in a telephone interview said he is the official advocate for the claimants and insisted that the content in the petition is true.