A section of legislators has implored the government to exploit Uganda’s rejuvenated ties with Democratic Republic of Congo to write off the USD 325m debt which the International Court of Justice condemned Uganda to pay Congo reparation for war crimes and plundering of resources.
The call follows the failure by the government to allocate funds for compensation of DRC Congo in the 2024/2025 national budget framework paper.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Uganda to pay Democratic Republic of Congo DRC a total of $325 million as compensation for losses caused by Ugandan troops occupying Congolese territory in the 1990s. The first instalment of $65 million was paid on September 1, 2022 and the second instalment on September 1, 2023 under a phased payment schedule of five years.
However, in the budget framework paper for financial year 2024/2025 government has not allocated money for court awards to Congo yet the third installment falls due on September 1,2024. However, a section of members of the budget of parliament has vowed to reject any further appropriation of funds to reparations of Congo saying Uganda is already constructing roads in DRC
The Kira municipality legislator Ibrahim Semujju Nganda argues that Payment of the reparations should not be the burden of all Ugandans but only those that participated in the crimes and plunder of DRC resources that have never been brought to book
Some legislators have implored the government to exploit Uganda’s rejuvenated ties with DR. Congo to write off the ICJ debt.
While issuing cash limits for quarter three in parliament, the secretary to the treasury Ramathan Ggoobi assured the country that Uganda is on a right track in regards to payment of reparation to D.R. Congo and there will not be any default on the five-year plan.
The ICJ assessed $225m for “loss of life and other damage to persons” that included rape, conscription of child soldiers and the displacement of up to 500,000 people. It assessed another $40 million for damage to property and $60 million for damage to natural resources, including the plundering of gold, diamonds, timber and other goods by Ugandan forces or rebels they supported.
