DISO Orders probe into alleged extortion and irregularities in Pader restocking programme

14 August 2026, 9:26 am

Pader District Internal Security Officer Godfrey Ekaba has revealed that investigations are underway into allegations of extortion and irregularities in the implementation of the government restocking programme in the district.

Ekaba says his office has opened a general inquiry file at Pader Central Police Station to investigate complaints of extortion linked to the programme.

He warns that any leader found guilty of demanding money from beneficiaries or engaging in other misconduct will face disciplinary and administrative action.

Ekaba says civil servants found culpable could be interdicted.

The DISO also cites complaints that some local leaders were sidelined during the selection of beneficiaries, with particular concerns raised by LCIs in Porogali, Paiula and Ogom sub-counties.

He says there were also allegations that some beneficiaries were selected through the influence of local leaders, including claims that relatives of leaders benefited despite the existence of other potentially more deserving beneficiaries.

Ekaba further says some people selected had previously benefited from other government programmes.

He says some former beneficiaries had lost the telephone contacts used during previous programme profiling, while others allegedly discarded their contacts deliberately to avoid repayment obligations under programmes such as the Parish Development Model.

The implementation also faced challenges in Got Okong and Omeda parishes in Acholibur Sub-county, which initially missed out after failing to meet the requirements.

Ekaba says interventions were later made following consultations with district leaders, but the online system had already been closed.

He also cites negligence and laxity among some leaders as another challenge.

In Pukor Sub-county, for example, Ekaba says an LCII official responsible for uploading beneficiary information did not have a telephone contact, despite the programme relying on an online system.

He says he advised district leaders to identify another person with a functioning contact to facilitate the process.

The concerns come as Pader District LCV Chairperson Alfred Akena has also warned leaders against altering beneficiary names under the restocking programme.

Speaking on radio recently, Akena said leaders involved in what he described as dubious deals involving the alteration of beneficiary names would face the law.

Akena cited Kineni Parish, where he said his office had received what he described as a serious report involving the LCII chairperson.

Ekaba has urged district stakeholders to sensitise communities ahead of the next phase and ensure that beneficiary selection is based on vulnerability rather than political or personal connections.

He also calls on leaders at all levels to actively participate in the process and prevent the selection of relatives at the expense of more deserving beneficiaries.

The DISO further urges leaders to regularly follow up with the Chief Administrative Officer to ensure that approved beneficiary names are not altered.

He says communities should also desist from politicising government programmes and instead focus on identifying challenges and finding solutions.

Godfrey Ekaba spoke to our reporter from his office at the Office of the Resident District Commissioner at the Pader District headquarters.