By Ben Musanje
State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Luweero Triangle and Rwenzori Region, Alice Kaboyo, has presented an extensive account of government interventions aimed at improving the welfare of civilian veterans and communities affected by Uganda’s liberation struggle, highlighting achievements in housing, compensation payments, education infrastructure and wealth creation initiatives.
The report, presented during the 37th National Heroes Day celebrations held virtually from State Lodge Nakasero, came at a time when concerns over veterans’ welfare, accountability of Akasiimo funds and demands from unverified claimants continue to dominate discussions among liberation war beneficiaries.
Addressing President Yoweri Museveni, Kaboyo outlined what she described as significant progress made under the Luweero-Rwenzori portfolio despite operating under limited financial resources and expanding responsibilities across several regions of the country.
One of the key achievements highlighted was the construction of houses for vulnerable civilian veteran families. Kaboyo reported that her ministry had partnered with MEC to construct low-cost housing units for beneficiaries identified from various districts across the country.
According to the minister, a total of 16 houses had so far been completed and handed over to beneficiaries drawn from Nakaseke, Luweero, Wakiso, Budaka, Mukono, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kabarole and other districts. The beneficiaries included individual veterans as well as families of deceased liberation struggle contributors.
The housing initiative represents one of the flagship welfare programmes targeting aging veterans, many of whom have repeatedly petitioned government over poor living conditions despite their contribution to the National Resistance Army (NRA) struggle that brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to power in 1986.
Kaboyo also revealed that the ministry had revised its previous approach of supplying building materials directly to beneficiaries. The earlier strategy, which involved distributing cement and other construction materials, had encountered significant challenges, including wastage due to delayed utilization and the limited shelf life of cement.
Lessons learned from the programme, she explained, had prompted government to adopt a more targeted intervention model where iron sheets are only supplied to beneficiaries whose houses have already reached roofing stage and are ready for immediate completion.
Beyond housing, the minister detailed government efforts to preserve institutions that played historic roles during the liberation struggle. She disclosed that an assessment of schools and educational facilities that supported the NRA struggle had already been conducted and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Sports for consideration.
While awaiting action from the education ministry, Kaboyo said her office had used available resources to rehabilitate and support selected schools that suffered destruction during the war years.
Among the beneficiary institutions are schools located in Kasese, Nakaseke, Luweero, Fort Portal, Bunyangabu, Wakiso and Buvuma districts.
The minister further reported that affirmative action interventions had been extended beyond the traditional Luweero Triangle to include districts in the Busoga sub-region. Several classroom blocks have been constructed in Buyende, Luuka, Namayingo, Bugiri, Mayuge, Kamuli, Namutumba and Kaliro districts as part of government efforts to address educational infrastructure deficits.
Kaboyo said the interventions were intended to strengthen human capital development and ensure that communities that historically suffered marginalization could benefit from improved educational opportunities.
On the issue of direct compensation, which has remained one of the most contentious aspects of veteran welfare, Kaboyo reported that government had paid one-off gratuities to 13,681 additional civilian veterans, bringing the cumulative number of compensated beneficiaries to 93,514.
The figure represents a significant increase from previous years and builds on the Akasiimo programme that government introduced to recognize civilians who supported the liberation struggle through intelligence gathering, logistics, food supplies, guidance and other forms of assistance.
The minister also revealed that 68,843 iron sheets had been distributed to vulnerable households and institutions across the Luweero, Rwenzori and Busoga sub-regions.
Her report comes just hours after President Museveni announced plans to summon leaders of veteran organizations and verification committees to account for the utilization and distribution of more than Shs231 billion spent under the Akasiimo programme and related interventions since 2008.
The President expressed concern that despite substantial government investment in veteran welfare, many beneficiaries continued to complain about exclusion, poverty and delayed compensation.
Earlier during the same celebrations, National Executive Member for Veterans Kigundu Kabandwa had appealed directly to Museveni to intervene and rescue struggling veterans. Kabandwa argued that many government programmes originally designed to uplift liberation war contributors had gradually shifted away from their intended beneficiaries.
He also reported that numerous veterans remained without promised housing and that several groups felt increasingly disconnected from decision-making processes affecting their welfare.
Against this backdrop, Kaboyo assured the President that the ministry would continue implementing his directive to compensate all verified civilian veterans in accordance with available resources and established guidelines.
She further disclosed that verified lists for additional categories of beneficiaries, including victims of the Rwenzururu conflict and individuals affected by the Lakwena insurgency, had already been received by government.
However, she appealed for guidance regarding thousands of claimants whose veteran status remains unapproved and who continue to petition government for inclusion in the compensation programme.
The minister suggested that identifying resources to settle claims from emerging beneficiary groups at once could help eliminate recurring disputes and administrative challenges that have characterized the Akasiimo programme for years.
Looking ahead, Kaboyo outlined an ambitious agenda for the 2026/2027 financial year focused on wealth creation, household income improvement and community transformation.
The ministry plans to intensify mobilization efforts around government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and other income-generating initiatives. It also intends to organize regional think tanks, transformation forums and stakeholder consultations aimed at developing local solutions to persistent socio-economic challenges.
Special attention, she noted, would be directed toward helping civilian veteran families establish sustainable enterprises in areas such as coffee production, fish farming, pottery and community savings groups.
Among the most ambitious proposals presented to the President was a request for support in acquiring 60 acres of land near Migyera for the establishment of a liberation heritage museum and historical centre.
Kaboyo informed Museveni that suitable land had already been identified and that the proposed facility would serve as a repository for documenting, preserving and showcasing Uganda’s liberation history for future generations.
She also conveyed a request from members of the Veterans Verification Committee seeking an audience with the President to express appreciation for government support and discuss matters affecting veterans.
Concluding her report, the minister noted that the Luweero-Rwenzori portfolio currently covers 44 districts spread across historically significant regions, making its mandate both extensive and resource-intensive.
While acknowledging the considerable progress registered over the years, she maintained that the scale of outstanding needs continues to exceed available funding. She therefore appealed for enhancement of the ministry’s budget to enable it reach more households, transform more communities and deliver on government commitments to those who contributed to Uganda’s liberation struggle.
As scrutiny over Akasiimo payments intensifies and veteran leaders demand greater accountability, Kaboyo’s report presented a picture of a ministry attempting to balance historical obligations, growing expectations and limited resources while preserving the legacy of one of Uganda’s most defining political struggles. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
