Kaberamaido, Uganda | Three Kaberamaido District officials have been arrested over allegations of extortion, bribery, nepotism and abuse of office in the implementation of the government’s cattle restocking programme in Palataw Parish, Alwa Sub-county.
The suspects are Mr Kenneth Eyoru, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO), Mr Kalvin Eyamu, the Sub-county Chief, and Mr Robert Elwayu, the Parish Chief.
Their arrest followed a community accountability meeting convened by district leaders after residents raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the beneficiary selection process.
The meeting was attended by Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma, Assistant RDC Peter Arikos, the Deputy District Internal Security Officer (DISO), the Principal Assistant Secretary representing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the LCIII chairperson, local leaders and members of the community.
Residents accused the officials of demanding money from intended beneficiaries, soliciting bribes, favouring relatives in the allocation of cattle and failing to conduct the mandatory community meeting to identify and vet beneficiaries in line with government guidelines.
During the meeting, the LCII chairperson reportedly accused the Sub-county Chief and the Parish Chief of misleading him during the implementation of the programme.
Two beneficiaries, Mr Faustino Ekadu and Mr John Otira, also alleged that the GISO and the Sub-county Chief demanded kickbacks after they had benefited from the programme.
Several residents echoed similar claims, telling district leaders and security officials that vulnerable households were allegedly asked to pay money to access a government programme intended to be offered free of charge.
Following the testimonies, security officials opened a General Inquiry File (GIF) into the allegations of extortion and corruption. The three suspects were handed over to the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Alwa Sub-county before being transferred to Kaberamaido Central Police Station to assist with investigations.
District authorities said the Chief Administrative Officer had directed police to investigate and prosecute any public officer found to have extorted money, solicited bribes, manipulated beneficiary lists or failed to implement the programme in accordance with government procedures.
The district leadership said the arrests should serve as a warning to public officials against exploiting government programmes for personal gain, noting that the cattle restocking programme is intended to improve household incomes, restore livelihoods and advance the government’s wealth creation agenda.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.