Oyam, Uganda | The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has suspended its revenue-sharing programme in Kamdini Sub-county, Oyam District, following the alleged mismanagement of Shs140 million in funds intended for community development.
The suspension was announced during a 10-year district planning meeting held on Wednesday at the Oyam District Council Hall.
The funds were part of a government initiative designed to benefit communities neighbouring wildlife conservation areas.
Wilson Kagoro, Warden of the Community Conservation Area, told journalists that the irregularities surrounding the 2022 revenue-sharing disbursement had prompted the suspension.
He explained that UWA had halted the programme in Kamdini after discovering that the funds were not utilised as intended and that despite repeated attempts to obtain accountability, the matter remained unresolved.
The revenue-sharing scheme is part of UWA’s broader strategy to foster good relations between conservation authorities and local communities by funding community projects.
However, the authority said the suspected abuse of funds in Kamdini undermined the credibility of the programme.
Terence Omonya, LC3 Chairperson of Kamdini Sub-county, confirmed that a preliminary internal probe had been conducted following public complaints and that the investigation revealed UGX 8 million of the disbursed funds may have been misappropriated by the then Sub-county Chief, Geoffrey Okech.
He added that they were awaiting a more thorough investigation by district authorities.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Oyam District Speaker Nomi Otyeno disclosed that the letter from UWA requesting accountability never reached the district council for debate, which delayed official engagement on the issue.
He emphasized that the council should have been informed.
District LC5 Chairperson Benson Dila said the Public Accounts Committee had been directed to open a formal inquiry into the alleged abuse and was now responsible for investigating the matter thoroughly and recommending appropriate action.
Meanwhile, Chief Administrative Officer Frederick Habert Kitutu proposed the arrest of Okech to aid in the recovery of the funds and alleged that district auditors had linked the former Sub-county Chief to multiple financial scandals, including the allocation of funds for a toilet block at Lela Market in Loro that was never constructed.
He stated that such patterns of financial mismanagement could not be ignored and that decisive action was necessary.
In response to the mounting accusations, Geoffrey Okech denied any wrongdoing and threatened legal action, asserting that the allegations were false and intended to tarnish his name, and that he would seek legal redress to protect his integrity.
The controversy has drawn widespread concern from residents and civil society groups, many of whom are demanding transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
The outcome of the district’s internal investigation is expected to determine whether UWA will reinstate the revenue-sharing programme in Kamdini and potentially serve as a precedent for similar cases in other districts.