KAMPALA: President Yoweri Museveni has directed veteran leaders to account for more than Shs231 billion that the government has disbursed over the years to support former bush war fighters and their wealth creation initiatives.
Speaking during the 37th Heroes’ Day celebrations held at State Lodge Nakasero on Tuesday, Museveni said a special meeting would be convened to establish what happened to the funds, commonly known as *akasiimo*, which were intended to benefit veterans of the 1981-1986 liberation struggle.
“We are going to have a meeting to find out what happened to that money,” Museveni said.
The president explained that the directive stems from a 2009 resolution reached between the government and leaders of veterans’ associations to pay Shs5 million to each veteran leader involved in the liberation war, including their spouses, and Shs1.5 million to support cadres who contributed to the struggle.
Museveni used the occasion to pay tribute to both civilian and armed veterans who participated in the war that brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to power in 1986.
“I want to thank the civilian and armed veterans who joined us to achieve this; to defeat an army of the government which had all the weapons,” he said.
He noted that the liberation struggle was launched to reverse what he described as a collapse in governance, security, democracy and the economy under previous regimes.
The president also urged veterans to strengthen the management of their SACCOs to make it easier for government support to reach them through organized groups.
To boost wealth creation among veterans and their families, Museveni announced plans to use presidential farms in Kawumu, Gomba and Ngoma as seedling breeding centres to supply planting materials.
In addition, he confirmed that government will purchase 60 acres of land at Migadde along the Kampala-Bombo highway for the establishment of a liberation war museum.
On healthcare, Museveni directed his Principal Private Secretary to expedite arrangements for veterans to receive treatment at Entebbe Grade B Hospital, saying this would reduce reliance on costly private health facilities.
Heroes’ Day celebrations were held under strict Ebola control measures, with physical attendance limited to fewer than 25 invited guests. Senior government officials, including Vice President Jessica Alupo, Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja among others attended the event.
