Govt warns of fraud risk in sh80b cattle restocking programme

In parts of northern and eastern Uganda, where cattle are more than livestock, they are wealth, status, and security; the promise of restocking has carried real hope.

For many families still recovering from years of economic disruption, the government’s cattle restocking programme represents a chance to rebuild livelihoods, one animal at a time.

But this month, that promise was overshadowed by concern. In a statement issued on April 8, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) moved to address what it described as “improper administration” of beneficiary documentation under the ongoing cattle restocking programme in Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.

At the centre of the issue is a practice that officials say should never have happened.

According to the OPM, some local government officials, particularly in Gulu City, have been asking beneficiaries to sign declaration forms confirming receipt of funds before any money is actually disbursed. The office was unequivocal in its response.

“This practice is a direct violation of the approved Programme Implementation Guidelines and is firmly condemned,” the statement said.

For beneficiaries, many of whom rely on such programmes to recover from past losses, the implications are serious. Signing a document that confirms payment before receiving any funds not only creates confusion, it also opens the door to fraud.

The OPM warned that pre-signing these forms “creates a risk of false financial accountability, exposes vulnerable beneficiaries to fraud, and is an abuse of trust” by those tasked with implementing the programme.

The cattle restocking programme itself is a significant government intervention. Introduced as a Presidential directive and backed by Cabinet decisions, it targets 33 local governments across the three sub-regions.

Each verified household is expected to receive sh 5 million to purchase five animals, three heifers and two bulls.

For many rural families, that amount represents more than financial support. It is the foundation for rebuilding herds, restoring income, and regaining a measure of stability.

The programme is fully funded by the Government of Uganda, with an allocation of sh80 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. Funds are meant to be sent directly to beneficiaries through bank accounts or registered mobile money lines, bypassing intermediaries and reducing the risk of mismanagement.

But as the latest developments show, implementation on the ground can diverge from policy.

To address this, the OPM laid out the correct process. Beneficiaries are first identified and verified at the parish level, with Parish Development Committees compiling lists of eligible households.

These are then consolidated by district authorities and submitted through the Ministry of Local Government before funds are released.

Crucially, the declaration form, now at the centre of the controversy, is meant to serve as proof that money has already been received.

“The declaration on the Beneficiary Form constitutes an acknowledgement of receipt and must only be signed after the full amount of sh 5,000,000 has been received by the beneficiary,” the OPM clarified. Anything outside that sequence, officials stressed, is a breach of procedure.

The government is now urging beneficiaries to protect themselves. They have been advised not to sign any document confirming receipt of funds they have not yet received and to report any such requests to district authorities or directly to the OPM.

For a programme of this scale, trust is as important as funding.

In regions where past interventions have sometimes fallen short of expectations, ensuring transparency is key, not only to delivering results, but to maintaining public confidence.

The OPM acknowledged as much, reiterating its commitment to ensuring that funds reach intended beneficiaries “in full” and that the programme is implemented with “the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity”.