Government’s Shs5 million cattle restocking programme per beneficiary in Bukedea District has been hit by recycled telephone numbers, alleged extortion and diversion of funds, raising fresh questions about controls over the initiative.
The concerns emerged during an oversight visit by the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring on Wednesday, Ms Sandra Santa Alum, who was told that beneficiaries have struggled to access funds after mobile telephone numbers used during registration were sold to new subscribers.
Mr Elimu Emmanuel, the district focal person for the restocking programme, said seven beneficiaries had been affected by the problem.
‘The challenge now comes at the time of receiving money. The bank is now paying the money to this beneficiary through the account. The account is this very number that was already identified earlier in the PDM management system, but by the time of benefiting, the line was sold by MTN. For the beneficiary now to access this money, it is a tug of war,’ he said.
Mr Elimu said the district had engaged the bank and MTN to resolve the cases but had not received a solution.
The Assistant Resident District Commissioner in charge of restocking, Mr Arafat Oyo, said 582 of the 600 beneficiaries had received their money, while 18 cases had mismatched details.
He also disclosed seven alleged extortion cases, including one in which an intermediary allegedly withdrew Shs5 million but handed a beneficiary only Shs4.5 million.
‘But through my office, he was arrested,’ Mr Oyo said.
Bukedea County MP David Beecham Okwere said the programme was generally progressing, but alleged manipulation in beneficiary selection needed investigation.
‘In some cases one family is benefiting, like around three or four people, and yet it’s supposed to be received by one person,’ he said.
He called on the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate how such beneficiaries were selected.
Mr Okwere estimated overall implementation in the constituency at about 50 per cent.
Cows or radios?
Officials also raised concern that some beneficiaries were spending the restocking money on activities unrelated to livestock.
Mr Elimu said while most beneficiaries were buying cattle, some, particularly those who had settled in the town without land, were investing in small businesses.
But he also cited cases of beneficiaries buying radios and solar equipment.
‘There are those who have used this money to buy radios. Buy a radio and enjoy life. Others are having solar,’ he said.
Minister Alum warned beneficiaries against diverting the money, saying the programme was designed to rebuild household livestock assets and livelihoods.
‘Some of them are buying the cows, others are buying less like two or three, and others are getting the money and using it for some other things,’ she said.
The minister said the Shs5 million is intended to help beneficiaries acquire five cattle; two bulls and three cows to rebuild their livestock base.
‘If people have not got it right, then we miss the point, and those ones who have used it for other things, I’m really telling them that this must stop. This money is intended for the benefit of the people, of the household, and it should be used for the intended purposes.’
She called for renewed sensitisation of beneficiaries and leaders to ensure the programme achieves its intended objective.