Kotido, Uganda – In a major blow to efforts aimed at promoting economic empowerment in Uganda, four individuals, including two government officials and two executives from a local SACCO, have been arrested on allegations of mismanaging funds allocated under the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation, commonly known as Emyooga.
The arrested individuals include Daniel Achila Lowot – Kotido Municipal Commercial Officer, Tadeo Muria – former Kotido District Commercial Officer, Hassan Teko – Secretary of the Jie County Performing Artists SACCO and Alice Nakiru – Treasurer of the same SACCO.
Their arrests, which occurred on Friday, follow an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the socio-economic upliftment of local communities.
The scandal comes to light just days after Kotido’s Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Charles Ichogor, commissioned a General Enquiry File at Kotido Central Police Station, following a troubling audit of the SACCOS and funds distributed through the program.
The enquiry was prompted by concerns raised over Emyooga funds, which were initially meant to empower small businesses and enhance the livelihoods of the residents of Kotido, a region in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region.
Peter Abrahams Lokwi, the Kotido Assistant Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the arrests and stated that preliminary investigations revealed significant mismanagement.
According to Lokwi, it was discovered that much of the allocated funds were never disbursed to the intended beneficiaries, raising concerns over the transparency and integrity of the project.
The audit also revealed that the officials in question failed to provide any evidence of a beneficiary list, raising further doubts over whether the money was ever distributed to the right people.
There are also reports suggesting that in some cases, individuals who were not part of the intended groups received the funds.
In 2019, Kotido District received a substantial sum of 1.1 billion shillings allocated for 32 SACCOS under the Emyooga initiative.
However, the audit results suggest that much of this funding was allegedly siphoned off by SACCO executives and association leaders, with little or no benefit reaching the intended recipients.
“Most of the funds were shared among the SACCO executives and association leaders, leaving the actual members, who were supposed to benefit, sidelined,” Lokwi added. “This is not what the government intended with the Emyooga program.”
The mismanagement of these funds has sparked public outrage, with local residents demanding accountability and swift action to ensure that the money intended for their welfare is properly accounted for.
The Emyooga program, launched in August 2019, is part of a broader government strategy aimed at transforming subsistence farming communities into more market-oriented producers.
The initiative targets sectors such as agriculture, trade and craft industries.
However, cases of corruption and mismanagement have plagued its implementation in several districts, undermining its potential to uplift vulnerable populations.
The Kotido scandal highlights broader concerns over the transparency of the initiative.
Despite its potential to stimulate job creation and wealth generation in impoverished areas, reports of misuse and fraud have cast a shadow over its effectiveness.
As investigations continue, the authorities are determined to hold those responsible accountable.
The Micro Finance Support Centre, which manages the Emyooga funds, is reportedly considering further scrutiny of the disbursement process and has promised to conduct an independent audit of the funds allocated to all districts.
“The government will not tolerate the misuse of funds meant for the welfare of our people,” said Charles Ichogor, the Kotido RDC. “We will ensure that the truth comes out and that justice is served.”
Residents of Kotido are left grappling with the fallout from this scandal, as they await answers and the return of the funds that were supposed to help transform their lives.
The Emyooga program’s success will depend not only on the government’s commitment to economic transformation but also on robust oversight to ensure that funds are used to benefit those who need them the most.
The next steps in this investigation could set a precedent for how Uganda tackles corruption in development programs moving forward.
