Seven cases, one arrest: Inside Apac's cattle restocking scandal

Full report

Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs), Parish Chiefs, Sub-county Chiefs and several political leaders in Apac District are facing arrest and prosecution over the alleged mismanagement of cattle restocking funds meant for vulnerable beneficiaries.

In the 2025/2026 Financial Year, the government allocated Shs80 billion for the cattle restocking programme across the Lango, Acholi and Teso sub-regions, with each approved beneficiary entitled to Shs5 million.

Under the programme's design, beneficiaries are meant to be selected by the Parish Development Committee together with the beneficiaries themselves, while GISOs and Sub-county and Parish Chiefs are responsible for verifying and finalizing the beneficiary list.

However, officials are accused of exploiting that verification role — deleting genuine beneficiaries from the list and replacing them with relatives, friends and people who paid kickbacks.

Some Sub-county Chiefs, GISOs, Parish Chiefs and LC3 chairpersons allegedly went further, processing the funds of vulnerable beneficiaries and pocketing the money themselves.

Victims speak out

A resident of Abedi Parish in Apac Sub-county, who asked not to be named for his safety, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 told this publication that his elderly father was among those defrauded.

He said that while he was away in Lira City for work, the former LC3 chairperson approached his father, took his National ID card, used it to process the funds, and later handed him only Shs200,000. The family is still pursuing the rest of the money.

A 67-year-old widow from Teboke Sub-county gave a similar account. She said her LC1 chairperson had confirmed she was on the beneficiary list, but her name later vanished after Parish Chiefs allegedly replaced her with someone else.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Apac, Mr Andrew Onyuk, confirmed that numerous cases have been reported to his office, with some suspects already arrested and others being compelled to refund the money.

He said the GISOs of Teboke and Chegere Sub-counties were implicated, summoned, and made to refund the funds, which were then handed to the rightful beneficiaries.

Apac District Internal Security Officer (DISO) George Otingcwinywu said his office received reports against four GISOs, and investigations confirmed that two were seriously implicated.

Both were summoned along with their victims, accepted responsibility, and agreed to refund the money; disciplinary proceedings are ongoing.

Police at Apac Central Police Station say they have received seven cases of diverted restocking funds.

The officer in charge of Apac Central Police Station, Mr Aruna Bafan, said one suspect has already been arrested and arraigned in court, while other cases remain under investigation, with some suspects yet to be arrested and others already before the courts.

Arrests and prosecutions underway

Mr Godfrey Obonyo, the former LC3 chairperson of Apac Sub-county, was arrested last month and is currently remanded at Atopi Prison. He is accused of stealing Shs20 million meant for four beneficiaries.

Apac Deputy RDC Richard Tabaro said he had refunded Shs5 million of the money he is accused of taking but was arrested after failing to pay back the remaining Shs15 million balance.

Government response

Ms Santa Alum, Minister of State for Economics Monitoring in the Office of the President, on September 14, 2026 directed district security teams in Apac to investigate the matter fully and ensure culprits are held accountable.

Ms Alum said civil servants and political leaders who benefited from the fraud must be arrested and made to repay the money.

She further directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the RDC's office and police to ensure all implicated persons are arrested and the funds recovered.

Pictures attached