Beneficiaries of the government’s livestock restocking programme in Soroti have been warned against diverting funds meant for purchasing livestock, with authorities announcing strict monitoring to ensure compliance.
The warning affects 598 beneficiaries in Soroti City and Soroti District who are receiving government compensation under the cattle restocking initiative targeting households that lost livestock in past conflicts and cattle raids.
The beneficiaries include female-headed households, child-headed families, persons with disabilities, unemployed youth, former abductees and elderly residents. Each household receives Shs5 million through verified mobile money accounts to purchase three heifers and two bulls.
In Soroti City, 256 of the 350 targeted beneficiaries in the East and West divisions have already received the funds.
Mr Badru Ochengel, the focal person for the restocking programme and Assistant Deputy Town Clerk, said Shs1.28 billion had so far been disbursed and the remaining beneficiaries would receive their funds before the end of the month.
“We have all the data and we shall follow beneficiaries wherever they will be. Just do the right thing,” Mr Ochengel said.
He said a monitoring team comprising the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), the mayor and the town clerk would track the use of the funds to ensure beneficiaries purchase livestock as required.
Meanwhile, Soroti District has so far compensated 342 households under the programme.
District Communications Officer Abraham Ekwaru said the district received approximately Shs2.4 billion for the first phase of the exercise, of which Shs1.7 billion has already been disbursed.
“The compensation is paid directly to beneficiaries after a verification process conducted by district authorities and other responsible officials,” Mr Ekwaru said.
He noted that vulnerable groups were prioritised during the initial phase but stressed that all verified households would eventually receive compensation.
However, authorities have raised concerns over alleged corruption linked to the programme.
Soroti City Resident City Commissioner John Michael Okurut said his office had received complaints of extortion involving some beneficiaries.
He cited the arrest of a town agent from Central Ward in Soroti City East Division who allegedly extorted Shs4.5 million from a beneficiary, leaving her with only Shs500,000.
“I received a complaint that Michael Ewalu, a town agent, had taken the money from a beneficiary. In implementing zero tolerance to corruption, we arrested him and ensured the money was refunded immediately,” Mr Okurut said.
The compensation programme forms part of the government’s Shs80 billion cattle restocking initiative targeting households in the Teso, Acholi and Lango sub-regions.
While presenting the 2026/27 national budget last week, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said more than 2,000 households had already benefited from the programme.
The government plans to compensate 16,000 households across the three sub-regions, with each beneficiary household receiving Shs5 million to rebuild livestock stocks and improve household incomes.
Officials say the programme is intended to restore livelihoods and strengthen economic recovery in communities that suffered significant livestock losses over the years.