Otuke East MP Acon Demands Transparency in Cattle Restocking, Warns Against Beneficiary Extortion

OTUKE – The Member of Parliament for Otuke East Constituency, Hon. Julius Acon Bua, has issued a passionate appeal to local leaders in Otuke and the broader Lango sub-region to handle the ongoing government cattle restocking programme with utmost integrity, cautioning them against extorting money from vulnerable beneficiaries.

In an exclusive interview with the press on Wednesday, the legislator warned authorities against favoritism, urging them to scrutinize the selection process to ensure that the right beneficiaries—not just relatives and close friends—are prioritized in the programme.

"I urge the local leadership to execute their duties with a lot of integrity and transparency. They must not extort money from the beneficiaries," Acon stated.

His call to action comes at a critical time when the government has commenced the actual disbursement of funds under the Shs80 billion Cattle Restocking Programme targeting the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.

Government Restocking Programme Gains Momentum

According to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), 559 households have so far received Shs2.8 billion under the first phase of the programme, with an additional 11,504 households selected for payment. Each of the targeted 16,000 households will receive Shs5 million to purchase three heifers and two bulls.

The initiative follows a directive from President Yoweri Museveni, who last year endorsed a uniform plan of five cows per household for communities that lost livestock during decades of insurgency and cattle raids.

Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza recently confirmed that all payments are being made directly to verified beneficiaries through the PearlBank-Wendi mobile wallet platform to enhance transparency and accountability.

"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 (PDMIS)," Kakooza explained.

However, OPM has noted delays in four Local Governments that have not yet uploaded beneficiary lists, urging all district leaders to expedite the process.

MP Warns Against Past Mistakes

Hon. Acon, a retired Olympic middle-distance runner who has represented Otuke East since 2016, reminded local leaders of the failures of previous compensation efforts. Government officials have previously acknowledged that corruption involving middlemen and lawyers prevented resources from reaching intended beneficiaries.

"This time, we must not repeat those mistakes," Acon emphasized.

Government Handhoe Distribution in Spotlight

Beyond cattle restocking, Acon also addressed the recent government distribution of handhoes to the people of Lango. He urged the teams handling the distribution to execute their duties diligently and ensure that each and every household receives the hoes.

While commending the government for providing the farming tools, the Otuke East legislator reaffirmed his commitment to standing with his people through continued service delivery and poverty alleviation programs.

"I will continue standing with my people by giving them services, effective service delivery, and some alleviation programmes," Acon said.

A Man of the People

Known as a "man of the people at heart," Hon. Acon has already transformed lives in Otuke Constituency and the broader Lango sub-region. According to local reports, his initiatives have included the distribution of handhoes and the drilling of boreholes in Otuke and parts of Lango, improving access to clean water and agricultural tools for vulnerable households.

Constituents have previously praised the MP for his accessibility and development-focused leadership, citing improvements in road infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and educational scholarships during his tenure.