OPM disburses Shs2.8 billion in cattle restocking, critics call it 'drops in ocean'

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has initiated the disbursement of Shs2.8 billion from a Shs80 billion national cattle restocking fund, a program aimed at revitalizing livelihoods in areas devastated by decades of conflict and cattle rustling. However, the initiative is already facing criticism, with local leaders and stakeholders describing the allocated amount as insufficient to address the vast scale of livestock losses experienced in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.

In the initial phase, out of 16,000 targeted households, only 559 have received funding. This leaves over 15,400 families awaiting support, with a looming June 30 deadline to exhaust the current funds. Each beneficiary household is slated to receive Shs5 million, intended to purchase approximately five head of cattle.

Critics argue that the Shs80 billion is a minuscule amount compared to the millions of livestock lost over two decades. Past government programs, including the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) and court-ordered compensation, have been plagued by delays, corruption, and insufficient funding. OPM officials acknowledge the significant need but defend the phased approach, citing resource availability and the necessity for independent assessments.

In a shift from previous methods, the government is now providing direct cash transfers to beneficiaries, who are then responsible for purchasing their own livestock. This new model aims to prevent corruption and inflated costs associated with direct procurement of animals, a common issue in past restocking efforts. The OPM is prioritizing vulnerable groups, including the elderly, former abductees, female-headed households, and persons with disabilities, due to the limited funds.

Implementation is managed through Parish Development Committees, with data uploaded to a digital portal. However, technical bottlenecks and slow verification processes are causing payment delays. OPM Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza has warned district leaders that unspent funds risk being returned to the Treasury if not disbursed by the end of June, urging prompt action. To ensure timely delivery, the OPM is partnering with PearlBank Uganda for direct mobile money and bank transfers. Efforts are also being made to ensure local governments provide veterinary support to beneficiaries to improve the sustainability of the initiative and prevent high animal mortality rates seen in the past.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)