Irregularities mar Kole cattle restocking

Kole- Local leaders in Okwerodot Sub-county, Kole District, have been faulted for frustrating the implementation of the government restocking programme.

During a public accountability forum organised by the Apac Anti-Corruption Coalition, an NGO recently, some beneficiaries alleged that they paid Shs50,000 to some of the programme’s committee members to get the animals.

Committee members are Gombolola Internal Security Officers (Giso), councillors, parish development committees and Local Council I chairpersons.

Mr Ronald Okello Okino, a resident, said some councillors received more than three cows under the restocking programme and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

Ms Kevin Obong, the Okwerodot Sub-county councillor, confirmed she was given a cow after paying Shs50,000 to the selection committee.

The chairperson of the ruling NRM party in Alito and Okwerodot sub-counties, Mr Richard Otim, said he also gave Shs50,000 to the sub-county chairperson, Mr Jimmy Obal, to deliver a cow to the Giso.

But Mr Obal dismissed the claims, describing Mr Otim as a “liar.”
“I challenge anybody who knows that I picked money from them to stand up,” he told the meeting.
The Office of the Prime Minister, which is overseeing the programme, has previously called for efforts to ensure cattle is distributed to the intended and deserving beneficiaries.

In an interview with Daily Monitor at the weekend, the deputy chief administrative officer, Mr Ben Mali, acknowledged that there were irregularities in the implementation of the programme.

“That in itself does not fall within the guidelines of restocking and I think you have heard the people, the officers who are implicated, are local leaders,” Mr Mali said, adding: “They are taking advantage of the desperation of the would-be beneficiaries. This is a problem of moral decay.”

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