Gov’t begins compensation for 1998 Kichwamba rebel attack victims

2026-03-24 - 08:45

The government has commenced the process of compensating families who lost relatives during the 1998 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel attack on Uganda Technical Institute–Kichwamba in Kabarole district. On June 8, 1998, ADF rebels attacked the western Uganda-based institute, killing at least 80 students and abducting more than 100 others. During the raid, the attackers locked students inside dormitories before setting them on fire and shooting those who attempted to escape. Many students were burned alive, while others were taken into captivity. The victims came from different districts across Uganda. Last year, President Yoweri Museveni, in a February 24, 2025, letter to Finance minister Matia Kasaija, directed government to compensate each family that lost a child in the attack with Shs 15 million. On Monday, Kabarole district authorities began issuing recommendation letters to families of the victims to facilitate the compensation process. District chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga said the recommendation letters, together with supporting documents, will be submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Attorney General for verification and payment. Rwabuhinga explained that the ongoing exercise is targeting families of students who were killed either by gunfire or in the fire at the school. He, however, asked families of students who were abducted, remain missing, or survived the attack to remain patient, saying district leaders are engaging the Attorney General’s office to ensure they are also considered. Parents and relatives of 41 students who died met district officials, including the district chairperson, the principal of Uganda Technical Institute–Kichwamba and the District Internal Security Officer, at Kabarole district headquarters in Kitumba on Monday to verify records and process documentation. Parents of the victims on government compensation Rose Sserubiri, who lost her son in the attack, thanked government for remembering the affected families. She said her son, who was her firstborn, had a promising future that was cut short by the tragedy. Lemuresuk Losio, who lost a cousin, said the compensation would help support the family, which faced hardship after the death. He noted that the deceased left behind three young children who later dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. Onesmus Matsiko, another relative of a victim, also welcomed the initiative, saying although no amount of money can replace the lives lost, the support offers some relief to grieving families. Meanwhile, survivors of the attack have appealed to government to extend recognition and compensation to them as well as families of those who were abducted. Julius Katuramu, chairperson of the Kichwamba 1998 Survivors Association, welcomed the compensation for families of the deceased but urged authorities to consider survivors who continue to face long-term challenges. He said many survivors live with trauma, permanent disabilities and disrupted education. Katuramu proposed the establishment of a special support fund, similar to initiatives under programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), to economically empower survivors. Milton Namanya, who was in his first year at the institute during the attack, said he lost his senior four pass slip in the fire and was unable to continue his education elsewhere. He said life has remained difficult and appealed for government support. Another survivor, David Birungi, said he suffered severe burns that permanently affected his life. He noted that his body remains weak, he cannot perform heavy work and exposure to sunlight causes pain in his scars.