By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Uganda has made a payment of the sum of $65 million as first instalment in compensation to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the invasion and looting by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) during the Congo war between the late 1990’s and 2003.l
This conflict involved up to nine African countries, including Uganda and Rwanda, which supported rebel groups in the mineral-rich east of the country.
Spokesman of Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Apollo Munghinda on Monday confirmed the development, after the DRC’s Justice Minister announced it on Friday during a cabinet meeting.
The UN’s highest court, International Court of Justice (ICJ) had in February this year ruled that Uganda should pay its neighbour $225 million for loss of life, $40 million for damage to property and $60 million for damage to natural resources.
The money is to be paid in five instalments of $65 million, starting on September 1 this year and every September 1 for the following four years.
Kinshasa had initially demanded $11 billion but the ICJ ordered Uganda to pay $325 million.
