Pader Town Council warns against misuse of restocking funds

3 July 2026, 15:42

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Pader Town Council has warned beneficiaries of the government’s livestock restocking programme against misusing the Shs5 million grants, saying strict monitoring will ensure the funds are used exclusively to purchase cattle. The programme is part of a wider government initiative aimed at restoring household wealth and reducing poverty among vulnerable families in northern Uganda.

Leaders in Pader District cautioned beneficiaries during a meeting held in Pader Town Council on Friday, 3 July 2026, as local authorities intensified sensitisation and accountability measures ahead of the programme’s full rollout.

Under the first phase, Pader District has been allocated 582 beneficiary slots, with each household entitled to Shs5 million to purchase cattle, amounting to a total allocation of approximately Shs2.91 billion.

The programme is intended to restore livelihoods and rebuild household wealth among vulnerable families through livestock production.

Pader Town Council LCIII Chairperson Kilama Fearless Wodacholi said the funds must strictly be used for purchasing cattle, warning that any beneficiaries who divert the money from its intended purpose would face legal action.

“The Government is giving each household Shs5 million, equivalent to the value of at least five cattle. If you misuse this money, you are betraying your household and the future of your children,” Wodacholi said.

He further warned that anyone found spending the funds on alcohol or other non-productive activities would be arrested.

He added that authorities would conduct household inspections to verify that beneficiaries had purchased cattle, and urged recipients to retain photographs, receipts and other relevant documentation for accountability purposes.

Pader Town Council caretaker Senior Community Development Officer, Toolanya Anthony, said Pader Town Council received 18 beneficiary slots worth Shs90 million under the first phase.

The beneficiaries were drawn from Luna, Lagwai and Acoro parishes, with six beneficiaries selected from each parish.

Anthony said some beneficiaries had already received their funds, adding that all payments are expected to be completed by 15 July.

Luna Parish Town Agent Susan Laker said beneficiaries in the parish had agreed to withdraw their money only when they were ready to purchase cattle, a measure intended to minimise misuse of the funds.

She noted that authorities would conduct home visits to ensure the money was invested for its intended purpose.

Beneficiaries Okeny John Constant of Kalalo West and Akello Scovia, a widow from Lubele South, pledged to use their allocations to purchase cattle and rebuild their livelihoods.

The livestock restocking programme is part of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to restore household wealth lost during decades of insurgency and cattle raids that affected the Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.

For the 2025/2026 financial year, the Government committed Shs80 billion to support 16,000 households across 33 local governments, with each beneficiary receiving Shs5 million to purchase livestock.