Four arrested in Alebtong over alleged extortion of restocking programe beneficiaries,

8 July 2026, 1:19 pm

By Dickens Aruca

Four people, including a parish chief, were held at Akura Police Station in Alebtong District over allegations of extorting money from beneficiaries of the government’s livestock restocking programme.

The suspects have been identified as Abang Sofia, the LCII Chairperson and Female Councillor for Akura Parish; Adija Nancy, the Parish Chief for Akura Parish; Obua Isaac and Okello Anjilo Anyero, both members of the Parish Development Committee (PDC).

Speaking to our news desk , Akura Sub-county LCIII Chairperson, Alex Omara, confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects were apprehended on 6 Monday by a team from the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) following numerous complaints from members of the public.

Omara, who also serves as the General Secretary for LCIII Chairpersons in Alebtong District, said the suspects allegedly demanded money from beneficiaries of the restocking programe. According to the complaints, each beneficiary was initially asked to pay UGX 300,000, but seven beneficiaries reportedly paid UGX 150,000 each, amounting to UGX 1,050,000. He added that the money was later recovered.

Omara noted that all nine registered beneficiaries from Akura Parish have since received their restocking support and said most are putting the assistance to productive use.

Meanwhile, the Alebtong Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Okiswa, confirmed the arrests, explaining that his office launched investigations after receiving repeated complaints from the public. He said a team was dispatched to Akura Parish, leading to the arrest of the four suspects as investigations continue.

Okiswa warned public officials against abusing government programmes for personal gain, stressing that district leaders and security agencies are committed to eliminating corruption and ensuring transparency in the implementation of government interventions.

Authorities have pledged to pursue investigations to their conclusion, emphasizing that anyone found culpable will face the law, while reaffirming that government poverty alleviation programes must be implemented transparently and without exploitation of beneficiaries.