BIG STORY: NRM’s Otuko Undresses Bobi Wine Over Teso War Claimants Compensation

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has fired back at recent remarks made by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, over the long-standing compensation of Teso war claimants.

The rebuttal came from Otuko Augustine, NRM’s political mobilizer/Researcher and Private Secretary to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in charge of Political Affairs.

Using his official account on X (formerly Twitter), Otuko accused Kyagulanyi of politicizing a sensitive issue and misleading the public regarding government efforts to compensate war victims in Teso Sub-region.

“Sir, currently, there are close to 34,000 verified and validated claimants for payment in Teso Sub-Region. Another group of about 48,000 is not yet verified or validated,” Otuko wrote in his post directed at Kyagulanyi.

“Of the verified group, government has so far paid Shs 54.9 billion to 10,018 individuals in the 11 districts of Teso, including Pallisa and Butebo where there are Teso communities,” he continued.

Otuko clarified that while some claimants with smaller compensation requests have been fully paid, those with larger claims have received partial payments as the government works within annual budget allocations.

According to Otuko, the NRM-led government has cumulatively paid out Shs 134.7 billion to war claimants in Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions over the last three financial years, with a dedicated Shs 50 billion allocated annually to the programme.

This clarification comes just days after Kyagulanyi visited Soroti and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teso elders, promising to prioritize war claimants’ compensation if elected into power.

During the visit, he described past government compensation efforts as selective, deceptive, and politically exploitative.

“They have spent 40 years lying to these senior citizens,” Bobi Wine stated during his visit to Eneku Village. “Whenever some little money has been released in the past, it goes to a few selected NRM apologists.”

Otuko’s rebuttal adds to a growing list of political leaders accusing Kyagulanyi of reducing a serious issue to a political performance.

Earlier this week, FDC President Patrick Amuriat Oboi also criticized Bobi Wine for what he called “cheap politics” and “mockery of our old people.”

However, Otuko took a more data-driven approach, highlighting actual figures and payments as proof of government commitment to the affected communities.

“This is a structured and ongoing process. You cannot dismiss what the government has done simply because it does not serve your campaign narrative,” Otuko added in a follow-up comment.

He also revealed that President Museveni will meet all local government leaders, including councillors from Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions on Friday, May 30, 2025, at State House Entebbe to assess and review the progress of the compensation programme.

Despite Otuko’s defense, some residents and NUP supporters in Teso have remained skeptical about the government’s sincerity.

George William Okoit, another NUP mobilizer, questioned why the process has dragged on for decades and expressed disappointment at leaders like Amuriat and Otuko for attacking opposition voices instead of advocating for accelerated justice.

“We are tired of being statistics. What we want is closure and dignity, not PR wars between political camps,” Okoit said.

With the 2026 general elections on the horizon, the issue of war compensation remains a politically charged topic.

While the NRM emphasizes its track record and ongoing plans, NUP is gaining momentum by appealing to the frustrations of the marginalized and promising a more inclusive approach.