YLP treasurer arrested in Alebtong over alleged fund mismanagement

13 August 2026, 3:45 pm

By Dickens Aruca

Alebtong — Police in Alebtong District are holding the treasurer of Oyutu Abeno Youth Tents and Chair Hire over alleged mismanagement of funds received under the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP).

The suspect, identified as Steven Arok, was arrested on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, and detained at Alebtong Central Police Station following a directive by the Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Jimmy Okello.

Speaking to our reporter in an exclusive telephone interview, Okello said Arok was implicated in the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated to the youth group in Abako Sub-county during the 2014/15 financial year.

Okello said the group had operated for nearly 12 years without remitting its proceeds to its bank account, despite continuing with its business activities.

He explained that programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme and Parish Development Model provide revolving funds, which beneficiaries are expected to manage responsibly, repay or reinvest to enable other community members to benefit.

According to Okello, a district team met with members of Oyutu Abeno Youth Tents and Chair Hire in July this year to establish the status of the group and its funds.

The members reportedly told the team that they had used the funds to purchase chairs and a public address system for hire.

However, group members allegedly reported that about UGX 3 million belonging to the group was being held by the treasurer. Okello said only UGX 2.967 million was found in Arok’s possession.

The district team also inspected the group’s store and discovered that it had been converted into a produce store.

Okello said group members accused the treasurer of using the group’s money to purchase agricultural produce instead of depositing the proceeds into the group’s bank account.

The ARDC said he subsequently directed Arok to deposit UGX 2 million into the group’s account, but the treasurer reportedly deposited only UGX 200,000.

This prompted Okello to direct him to record a statement with the police last week. However, Arok allegedly went into hiding before he was eventually apprehended and detained at Alebtong Central Police Station, where investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Okello said the district operation targeting groups that have failed to account for or remit revolving funds would continue across Alebtong District.

He said the district team would next week move to Angetta Sub-county to inspect other beneficiary groups and establish how they have managed their funds.

Okello warned that Alebtong District risks missing out on additional funding under the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and other government programmes if beneficiaries fail to properly manage and remit revolving funds for the benefit of other community members.

The arrest is part of an ongoing district-wide effort to recover and account for government revolving funds, with authorities warning beneficiaries that the funds are intended to create opportunities for successive groups rather than serve as permanent grants for individual beneficiaries.