RCC Lira City Recovers Shs7.5 Million Extorted from Government Programme Beneficiaries
By Our Reporter
The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Lira City, Lawrence Emmy Egole, has recovered Shs7.5 million that was allegedly unlawfully obtained from beneficiaries of government programmes in Lira City.
The recovered money was allegedly extorted from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Restocking Programme in Blue Corner Ward, Lira City West Division.
The latest recovery involved Shs500,000, which was returned on Thursday after Adupa Denis, a member of the Parish Development Committee (PDC) for Blue Corner Ward, allegedly admitted to taking the money from an elderly beneficiary.
According to investigations by the RCC’s office, Adupa confessed to receiving Shs500,000 from Akullu Sijaria of Blue Corner North. The money had allegedly been deducted from the Shs5 million she received under the Office of the Prime Minister’s Restocking Programme.
The recovery comes amid an intensified government crackdown on corruption in the multi-billion-shilling cattle restocking programme, which aims to rebuild livestock and household incomes in the Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions. Authorities have uncovered cases involving extortion, diversion of funds and manipulation of beneficiary lists.
Several suspects have recently been arrested in connection with the programme, including Odongo Quinto and his daughter Auma Lydia from Oyam District, as well as Vincent Otile, the LCII Chairperson of Abwong Parish, and Conny Ejang, the Parish Chief in Kwania District.
Otile and Ejang are accused of enrolling non-residents into the programme with the intention of sharing government funds.
According to Egole, community engagements led Adupa to further admit that he acted under the directives of an LCII chairperson.
Adupa subsequently handed over the Shs500,000 to Akullu Sijaria at the RCC’s office on Thursday. Egole advised the beneficiary to use the funds for their intended purpose of improving her livelihood.
The RCC also issued a stern warning to Adupa, the Town Agent and other local leaders against engaging in extortion and abuse of office.
“No one will escape the long arm of the law. The Restocking Programme and the Parish Development Model are Presidential initiatives aimed at transforming the lives of Ugandans, especially the people of Lira City. They must not be undermined by corruption or selfish interests,” Egole said.
He further warned civil servants, Parish Development Committee members and lower local government leaders against exploiting vulnerable beneficiaries, stressing that anyone found extorting money from government programme recipients would face prosecution and possible imprisonment.
Bonny Ferdnard Okello Alelle advised the beneficiary to thank President Yoweri Museveni for introducing the Restocking Programme and other government wealth creation initiatives aimed at improving household incomes and livelihoods.
He urged beneficiaries to utilize the support for its intended purpose and cautioned against any abuse of the programmes.
Okello emphasized that anyone found misusing or exploiting government wealth creation initiatives would be prosecuted without fear or favou
