Allegations of fraud have emerged in the government’s Shs80 billion Cattle Restocking Programme in Lango Sub-region.
The programme was designed to support cattle farming in Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions. However, an investigation has found claims of altered names, changed phone numbers, and attempted diversion of funds meant for vulnerable farmers.
One of the affected beneficiaries is Jennti Adong, a resident of Akuki Village, Abela Parish, Aleka Sub-county in Oyam District.
Adong expected to receive Shs5 million under the programme. But when other beneficiaries started receiving messages about deposits last week, she did not receive hers.
She later discovered that her phone number had allegedly been changed, raising fears that the money meant for her had been diverted.
“I approached the bank, and they told me my account was linked to another person’s name,” Adong says. “I don’t know how they did it.”
Beneficiary Finds Account in Another Name
Adong’s Wendi account was linked to her registered MTN number, 0767668248. However, Pearl Bank Uganda records showed that the Wendi account was registered under another person identified as Adriko Jimmy.
By June 10, 2026, the account had Shs5,000. Adong says she does not know the PIN for the Wendi account. She only knows the PIN for her mobile money wallet.
Adong says she acquired the SIM card using her National ID in April 2026. Pearl Bank’s data shows that Adriko Jimmy registered the Wendi account on February 13, 2025.
A staff member in Pearl Bank’s Credit Section at the Lira Branch said the account had been dormant before somebody deposited money on it.
“She now has the task to go to MTN Uganda so that they write for her a letter and confirm that yes this is her line, which she acquired through her national ID details. She may also need to verify whether MTN sold her an old line,” the bank staff member said.
How Wendi Is Used
Under the Cattle Restocking Programme, government sends money to beneficiaries through Wendi, Pearl Bank’s mobile money service platform.
Pearl Bank Uganda says Wendi supports financial inclusion by helping Ugandans access financial services without a bank account or smartphone.
The platform allows customers and agents to use electronic value for supported financial transactions. It also enables users and groups to access, manage, save, invest, and pay for services.
The service targets people with limited access to traditional financial services.
More Beneficiaries Face Discrepancies
Adong’s case is not isolated.
In Abela Parish, 16 people were nominated to benefit from the programme. However, discrepancies in their details have raised concerns that some payments could be diverted.
Local leaders have also been implicated. Some are accused of changing beneficiary names and phone numbers to siphon programme funds.
Benson Odongo, the Abela LC2 chairman, confirmed that some beneficiaries’ names were entered without corresponding phone numbers.
However, he said authorities were correcting the anomaly.
Questions Over Attempted Withdrawal
On June 10, 2026, this reporter met a man at Pearl Bank, Lira Branch, who said he wanted to withdraw money meant for his sick wife.
However, inquiries showed that the programme beneficiary, identified as Janet, lives in Barocok Village, Abela Parish, in Aleka Sub-county.
By press time, Janet was healthy and had not visited a health facility in months.
A local leader in Abela, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said there were serious problems in the programme.
“There is an old man here called Alfred Ogwang, the father of Jawa. Initially, he was registered to benefit from the programme but his name and phone number were changed. Local leaders are changing the beneficiaries’ names and phone details in order to eat their money,” the source said.
Farmers Risk Losing Support
The Cattle Restocking Programme aims to give each selected household Shs5 million. The money is meant to help families buy five animals.
However, the emerging fraud claims have raised concern that some vulnerable farmers may miss out.
Beneficiaries and local leaders say authorities need to act quickly. They want the government to protect the programme from further abuse and ensure the money reaches the intended households.
Government Defends Programme Progress
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Alex Kakooza, last week said the Cattle Restocking Programme was progressing well.
He said the programme was being implemented in Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.
According to Mr Kakooza, the government allocated Shs80 billion in the 2025/26 Financial Year for the programme.
Each household in 33 districts across the three sub-regions is expected to receive Shs5 million. The money is meant to help beneficiaries buy three heifers and two bulls.
Mr Kakooza said the Shs80 billion budget will support 16,000 households.
He added that 559 households had already received Shs2.8 billion. Another 11,504 households had been selected for payment.
“The beneficiaries are selected at the Parish level by the Parish Development Committee, and the list of beneficiaries is uploaded to the Parish Development Committee Management Information System,” he told journalists in Kampala on June 1, 2026.
“Districts have continued uploading beneficiary information to the PDMIS, which is being used for beneficiary selection, verification, and payment processing.”
OPM Warns Beneficiaries
Mr Kakooza said Parish Chiefs and Parish Development Committees do not handle programme funds.
He advised beneficiaries not to sign or thumbprint any document confirming receipt of funds before money reaches their bank or mobile money accounts.
“Implementation has, however, been slowed by delays from four local governments – Lamwo, Nwoya, Pader and Agago – that have not yet uploaded beneficiary lists to the system,” he added.
“All district leaders and technical teams are urged to expedite the submission and upload of verified beneficiary data to avoid further delays.”