national 18 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Apac Officials Accused of Siphoning Cattle Restocking Funds
Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs), local chiefs, and political leaders in Apac District are under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating government funds intended for a cattle restocking program. They are accused of replacing genuine beneficiaries with relatives and friends, often after taking kickbacks. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/apac-gisos-chiefs-accused-of-diverting-cattle-restocking-funds-5600520
Officials in Apac District, including Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs), parish and sub-county chiefs, and some political leaders, are facing accusations of mismanagement and diversion of cattle restocking funds. The program, which received Shs80 billion in the FY 2025/2026 for the Lango, Acholi, and Teso sub-regions, aims to provide cattle to underprivileged beneficiaries.
Reports suggest that the accused officials manipulated the selection process. Instead of identifying genuine beneficiaries, they allegedly removed eligible individuals from the list and replaced them with their own relatives, friends, or those willing to offer kickbacks. Some victims have come forward with harrowing accounts.
One resident from Abedi Parish recounted how his father, a genuine beneficiary, was only given Shs200,000 after his national identity card was used by a former LC3 chairperson to process the funds. Another widow from Teboke Sub-county shared that her name, initially approved for the program, mysteriously disappeared from the list, allegedly replaced by someone else at the parish level.
District authorities have acknowledged the issue. The Apac Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Andrew Onyuk, stated that several culprits have been arrested, and some are in the process of refunding the misappropriated money. Specifically, he mentioned that GISOs from Teboke and Chegere Sub-counties were summoned and made to return funds, which were then given to the rightful beneficiaries.
The Apac District Internal Security Officer (DISO), George Otingcwinyu, confirmed that investigations into several GISOs are ongoing, with at least two found to be seriously involved. The police at Apac Central Police Station have registered seven cases related to the diversion of these funds, with one suspect already in court and others awaiting arrest. The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring has directed district security agencies to thoroughly investigate and ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice and made to repay the embezzled funds.