Authorities in Oyam District have warned of tougher enforcement measures and more arrests as cases of extortion threaten to undermine the ongoing cattle restocking program targeting vulnerable households in Northern Uganda.
The warning comes amid reports that some officials and community agents are allegedly demanding money from residents under the guise of facilitating registration for the program.
The cattle restocking initiative covers the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions, providing each selected household with UGX 5 million to procure five cattle—three cows and two oxen. In Oyam District, two suspects—Evaline Nyandira and Francis Jonga—are currently detained at Oyam Central Police Station.
The duo was arrested in Loro Town Council over the weekend for allegedly extorting between UGX 2,000 and UGX 5,000 from residents, claiming the money was for data profiling under the program. The Chief Administrative Officer of Oyam District, Herbert Fredrick Kitutu, condemned the practice, describing it as illegal and warning that perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
Kitutu said his office has not issued any directive authorizing the collection of money during registration and stressed that the process is free of charge. He directed Sub-county Chiefs and Town Clerks to provide logistical and data support to Parish Chiefs and Town Agents to ensure beneficiary data is submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister by the Monday deadline.
Oyam Resident District Commissioner James Shilako warned that more arrests will follow if extortion continues, especially among civil servants involved in data collection. He confirmed that the suspects are in police custody and will soon be arraigned in court.
According to the district administration, the first batch of beneficiaries will include 1,184 households drawn from 74 parishes. Each parish will have 16 beneficiaries selected from categories including the elderly, widows, widowers, persons with disabilities, and unemployed youth.
The Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda is overseeing the implementation of the program. URN