A complaint by a person with a disability (PWD) who says she was dropped from the government cattle restocking programme has prompted an investigation into alleged irregularities in the allocation of Shs5 million in Lira City West Division.
Pamela Adero, a resident of Ujama Cell in Junior Quarters Ward, told journalists at Silver Peak Hotel in Lira City on Monday, October 19, that she missed out on the money despite being eligible for the programme.
Adero said Town Agent Tom Calvin Omong informed her that the computer system had failed to save her name, yet other people she considered her colleagues received the funds.
In a letter dated October 2, 2026, Lira City Town Clerk Bamanyisa B. Geoffrey asked the Division Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Officer in Lira City West to investigate alleged irregularities in the allocation of the funds to Daniel Okello, a former speaker of Lira City West Division.
According to the letter, Adero complained that she had been selected by the Junior Quarters Ward Parish Development Committee (PDC) but was later dropped and replaced by Okello, who she alleges does not reside in the ward or fall within the programme’s eligible beneficiary categories.
Records from the Office of the Town Clerk, Lira City West Division, indicate that 28 people were registered as beneficiaries in Junior Quarters in April 2026, but only 13 received the money. Okello was among those who reportedly benefited.
In a separate letter dated October 16, 2026, D/ASP Muyeyero Godfrey Fearless, the Divisional CID Officer for Lira City Central Division, summoned Okello to report to the police on October 19 at 10am to record a statement regarding alleged mismanagement and the inclusion of a beneficiary said to be ineligible.
When contacted by telephone, Okello declined to confirm whether he had received the Shs5 million, describing the allegations as politically motivated.
He accused Geoffrey Bosco Ogwal, his rival in a pending election petition, of fuelling the allegations. Okello further claimed that the police summons and related developments were intended to have him arrested and prevent him from attending the court proceedings.
The High Court in Lira is scheduled to deliver judgment on Friday, October 23, in a petition, challenging the results of the Lira City West Division councillor election.
Okello, who contested on the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) ticket, claims he won the January 2026 election with 4,301 votes against 4,288 garnered by independent candidate Ogwal.
Omong could not be reached for comment by publication time after he reportedly failed to answer three calls from this news outlet seeking his response to the allegations.