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Lango leaders want tough action on beneficiaries abusing anti-poverty cash

23 October 2026, 3:48 pm

The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Beatrice Akello Akori, and other government officials during the NUSAF IV induction meeting for Lango leaders and technical staff in Lira City.

By Winnie Auma

Leaders in the Lango sub-region have called on the government to introduce tougher penalties for people who misuse funds and resources provided under government poverty alleviation programmes.

The leaders made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Office of the Prime Minister to discuss the implementation of the fourth Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV).

Lira City Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Emmy Egole expressed concern that some beneficiaries regard government programmes as handouts, leading to the misuse of resources intended to improve their livelihoods.

Egole urged beneficiaries to use government support responsibly, saying the programmes are designed to help households improve their living conditions.

Lawrence Egole, the Resident City Commissioner for Lira says some beneficiaries deliberately misuse funds meant to eradicate poverty amongst them because they are not punished.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Lango LCV and Mayors’ Association, Ambrose Agec, asked the government to reconsider the practice of sending funds directly to beneficiaries’ individual mobile money accounts.

Agec argued that the approach makes it difficult for authorities to monitor beneficiaries and establish how the money is spent.

Apac LCV chair, Ambrose Agec says the use of mobile money to pay beneficiaries makes most to misuse because it’s hard to monitor them.

Kole Resident District Commissioner Gillian Akullu said the misuse of government projects was undermining efforts to reduce poverty in the country.

Akullu also asked the government to provide leaders with funds to support the implementation and monitoring of government programmes, saying this could help address corruption among technocrats.

Amolatar Resident District Commissioner Francis Rwotlonyo called for clear guidelines to punish beneficiaries who misuse government funds, citing cases of people allegedly misusing money provided under the restocking programme.

RDC Amolatar, Rwotlonyo says many beneficiaries arrested for misuse of funds are always released.

In response, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Beatrice Akello Akori, said NUSAF IV was intended to help poor households escape poverty through various livelihood-support projects. The programme is expected to run until 2031.

Regarding concerns about the disbursement of funds, Akori said the government would consult stakeholders and explore a better mechanism for delivering the money to beneficiaries.

The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Beatrice Akello Akori, speaks during a NUSAF IV induction meeting with Lango stakeholders at Margarita Palace Hotel in Lira.

NUSAF IV is a five-year, government- and World Bank-backed development initiative worth one trillion shillings. It aims to improve livelihoods, strengthen social protection and support local economic development.