Dokolo, Uganda | Police and district security officials in Dokolo are investigating the suspected diversion and concealment of 200 government-issued hoes meant for distribution to households in Agwata Town Council under a government poverty alleviation programme.
The hoes, supplied through the Office of the Prime Minister, were reportedly recovered from a hardware store belonging to a local businessman identified as Ocuku Patrick following a joint security operation.
Dokolo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Babra Akech said the district recently received a consignment of hoes intended to support household agricultural production and income generation.
Speaking from her office on Friday evening, Akech said Agwata Town Council had been allocated 3,648 hoes before security officials received intelligence reports indicating that part of the consignment had allegedly been hidden.
She said security personnel later recovered 10 cartons containing 200 hoes from the suspect’s premises.
“We cannot allow government programmes aimed at helping wananchi to be sabotaged by selfish individuals,” Akech said, adding that the district security committee would ensure all those implicated are held accountable.
According to the RDC, the hoes form part of government interventions intended to fight household poverty through increased agricultural production, although demand for the tools remains high due to the growing population.
Akech confirmed that Ocuku Patrick was arrested and is currently detained at Dokolo Central Police Station as investigations continue into how the hoes were allegedly diverted from the intended beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Dokolo North Member of Parliament Joseph Jones Ogwal condemned the alleged diversion of the hoes and called for prosecution of all individuals involved.
Ogwal said leaders have a duty to protect government programmes intended to improve the livelihoods of citizens.
He revealed that during the recent National Resistance Movement (NRM) retreat in Kyankwanzi, President Yoweri Museveni urged Members of Parliament to strengthen oversight and ensure proper implementation of government programmes.
“Those sabotaging government programmes meant to benefit wananchi should be arrested and prosecuted. These items are meant to improve the lives of our people and should not be tampered with,” Ogwal said.
The legislator further directed that all the recovered hoes be distributed to the rightful beneficiaries in Agwata Town Council.
Akech also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and report cases involving theft or misuse of government resources, saying community cooperation remains critical in promoting accountability and improving service delivery in the district.
