Lango War Claimants Take Compensation Battle to International Court

LCCTV NEWS

LIRA UGANDA-Lango War Claimants have escalated their decades-long fight for justice after filing a case against the Government of Uganda before an international court in The Gambia, accusing the state of failing to compensate thousands of victims who lost property during past conflicts.

Moses Ogwang Adonyo, Chief Executive Officer of the Lango War Claimants, told reporters on Monday, June 29, 2026, that the court had officially received their complaint.

"The court has given us two weeks to verify and complete the supporting documents before formally lodging the case," Ogwang said.

He explained that the legal process commenced on June 21, 2026, when he submitted initial case documents through the court's registrar in Ethiopia before the matter was forwarded to the international court in The Gambia.

Once documentation is complete, Ogwang said the court is expected to notify the Government of Uganda and commence legal proceedings over the government's alleged refusal to compensate victims from the Lango, Acholi and Teso sub-regions.

Compensation 'Not Restocking'

Ogwang strongly rejected claims that the compensation sought is the same as the government's Restocking Programme.

"The government has repeatedly tried to equate our compensation claim with the cattle restocking programme, but they are separate matters. We are demanding compensation for losses suffered during the war, not restocking assistance," Ogwang stated.

He added that while he supports the Restocking Programme for eligible beneficiaries, it should not be used as a replacement for compensation owed to victims under the Lango War Claimants programme.

The distinction is significant. The claimants secured a High Court judgment in 2014 ordering the government to pay Shs5 million in general damages plus 25% interest to each of 69,475 verified claimants. The court also set specific values for livestock losses: Shs900,000 per cow, Shs150,000 per sheep or goat, and Shs250,000 per pig.

Saidi Ogwang, Chairperson of the Lango War Claimants for Lango, said the move to an international court followed years of frustration with the domestic legal process.

"We want the Government of Uganda to compensate all genuine Lango war claimants. That is why we have decided to seek justice before an international court," he said.

Victims Speak Out

Jak Bill Okello, 53, a claimant, expressed frustration over the prolonged wait for compensation.

"I accuse some government officials of misleading the government into replacing compensation with the Restocking Programme," Okello said.

Catherine Atim from Loro Town Council, Oyam District, said she lost 78 head of cattle during the conflict.

"We lost everything during the war. Many families are still struggling because they have never been compensated," she said.

The claimants have been seeking redress since 2010 when the Lango War Claimants Association first sued the government over losses suffered during the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency. Despite the High Court ruling in their favour, successive governments have failed to implement the order fully.

Government Yet to Respond

The Government of Uganda, under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has started implementing the Restocking Programme to help communities in Lango, Acholi and Teso recover by providing livestock to affected households.

However, Lango War Claimants maintain the programme is a development intervention and does not replace the compensation they are demanding for property allegedly lost during the conflict.

The Government of Uganda had not publicly responded to the latest legal action by the time of publication, and the claims made by the Lango War Claimants remain their allegations before the court.

LCC TV NEWS