The
celebration of the National
Resistance Movement-NRM Liberation Day is worthless, civilian veterans in Luwero District have said.
The theme
for this year is ‘Celebrating the 36th NRM victory day, a call to duty for all
compatriots to continue towards Uganda’s Social Economic Transformation
Journey.’
On January
26, 1986, National Resistance Army guerilla fighters captured power after a
protracted war in the districts of Luwero and Nakaseke district. During the war, the NRA fighters recruited
civilians to work as spies. The civilians also provided food and shelter to the
rebels.
However several civilian veterans in Nyimbwa Sub County in Luwero believe that
there is nothing to celebrate due to poor social services and abject poverty.
A mass grave where 780 skulls of fallen fighters was constructed at Ssambwe
village in Nyimbwa sub-county, the civilian fighters still have fresh memories
of the war.
Fred Wasswa Mubiru the resident of Ssambwe village in Nyimbwa Sub County was
recruited into the war in 1982 at age of 13 years and used to spy on government
forces as well as supply food supply to the rebels.
Wasswa says that during the war, the NRA fighters promised that after capturing
power the individuals, as well as communities, will benefit from social services.
He adds that the majority of civilian veterans received about 150,000 Shillings
and less than 10 iron sheets before the government cut communication with them.
Wasswa says that although it is not possible to compensate everybody, the
government should have constructed secondary schools and equip health centers
with drugs.
// Cue in: “Era Nze sakwatta…
Cue out;…mu kitundu kino”//
Salim Bay
Bugembe another civilian veteran says that the government health center where they
seek services is just a shadow. He says that residents still traverse long
distances to access better services at a cost as before.
Bugembe says
that they regret sacrificing their food and energy to fight along with the
rebels yet their motive was to enrich themselves.
// Cue in; “Bampa amabaati….
Cue out;…nasigazza fuuti”//
Yoweri Kigongo
the Chairman LCI Chairperson Ssambwe Village says that apart from peace, there
is nothing to celebrate on liberation day if the NRM has failed to construct
government secondary schools in parishes as well extend electricity to
promote social-economic transformation.
// Cue in; “byetufunyemu mpozzi…
Cue out;….babonereza”//
Other
veterans decried abject in homes over lack of stable markets for agricultural
products and road networks.
Erastus Kibirango the LCV Chairperson Luwero District says that he is happy
that veterans are now able to express their dissatisfaction with the NRM
fighter for the lies.
Kibirango says that Luwero was the key agricultural area in the region but it’s
unfortunate they lost cattle and coffee plantations which until now are yet to
be restored.
Brenda Nabukenya the Luwero District Woman Member of Parliament asked the NRM
government to stop wasting resources to verify and claim that they are
compensating veterans because they failed to fulfill the promises. She says
that the government should effort into improving social services.
Nabukenya says it’s a shame that Nyimbwa sub-county which is located only 23
miles from Kampala City, the residents are still sharing water with animals and
others trek long distances to access clean water.
// Cue in : “Tulina Munnaku …
Cue out;…Ku Luwero”//
In August last year, Alice Kaboyo, the State Minister for Luweero Triangle
opened a regional office for Greater Luwero districts constructed by the Office
of Prime Minister at Luwero district headquarters.
The regional office is expected to register the applications for
compensation, coordinate, monitor, and supervise projects targeting former
National Resistance Army fighters in the region.
Apart from deploying an officer in the officer, veterans and local leaders are
yet to see any impact of its establishment.
