RCC halts Gulu restocking verification amid fraud claims

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The office of the resident city commissioner (RCC) in Gulu city has suspended a planned verification exercise for 667 beneficiaries earmarked for the first phase of the household restocking programme, intensifying tensions between city authorities, local leaders and technical staff.

Deputy RCC Peter Banaya announced the abrupt halt of the ward-to-ward verification, which had been scheduled to begin on Monday (May 4) in Bardege-Layibi division. The exercise was intended to scrutinise beneficiary lists across all 32 city wards.

Banaya said the suspension follows repeated delays and irregularities in the submission of beneficiary lists by technical staff.

He cited three major setbacks: the premature distribution of acknowledgement forms before payments, the submission of forged lists by town agents, and, most recently, disputes surrounding lists compiled by Local Council 1 (LC1) leaders.

“This is the third time the process has been compromised,” Banaya said, adding that while verification could proceed in a few selected wards, a citywide exercise would not be permitted.

He emphasised that the responsibility for verifying beneficiaries lies with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), not the city executive committee, and warned that conducting a fresh verification could inflame tensions.

“As a result of concerns raised by LC1 leaders, no verification will take place. The disputed list will instead be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister as it stands,” he said.

Banaya also criticised the city executive committee, insisting it lacks the authority to reverse the process.

However, city leaders and stakeholders have pushed back strongly against the RCC’s directive.

Alex Okoya Odongo, head of LC1 chairpersons in Gulu city, alleged that members of the executive committee, many of whom he claims lost in previous elections, are using the verification push to undermine LC1 leadership.

“Their intention is to target LC1s and tarnish their reputation,” Odongo said.

Last week, the executive committee resolved to conduct a door-to-door verification exercise starting in Bardege-Layibi division, covering wards such as Kasubi, Kanyagoga, For God, Library, Techo, Kirombe, and others, before extending it to Laroo-Pece division. The exercise was expected to last two days.

Richard Komakech Oketayot, the Gulu city secretary for production, expressed surprise at the sudden suspension.

“Technical staff are under pressure from both the RCC’s office and LC1 leaders, who are allegedly trying to include their own candidates rather than follow the programme’s priority guidelines,” he said.

Caroline Adong, secretary for finance, planning and administration, noted that the verification team could not proceed due to a lack of deployment of security personnel from the RCC’s office and the reluctance by some local leaders to cooperate.

John Charles Luwar, the programme’s focal point person, said he received instructions to halt the exercise without explanation, despite prior community sensitisation.

“The public had already been informed. This abrupt halt raises concerns,” he said, adding that plans are underway to publicly display the beneficiary list for community scrutiny.

The restocking initiative, funded with sh3.3b from the Office of the Prime Minister, targets 667 beneficiaries, 21 from each of the city’s 32 wards. Priority groups include the elderly, persons with disabilities, widows, widowers, female-headed households, former abductees and unemployed youth.

However, allegations have emerged that individuals outside these categories have been included, with some LC1 officials accused of listing themselves and their relatives.

According to programme guidelines, the city executive committee is mandated to approve beneficiaries, monitor implementation and ensure accountability, while the RCC’s office plays an oversight and reporting role.

Maliki Drakuma, acting Gulu city town clerk, said authorities remain committed to upholding transparency in the process.

“We intend to strictly follow the guidelines to ensure integrity in beneficiary selection,” he said.

Oketayot insisted the executive committee’s role must not be undermined by security agencies, warning that the committee may submit an independent report to the Office of the Prime Minister if dissatisfied with the current list.

About the restocking programme

The household restocking programme is a special presidential initiative designed to support war-affected and vulnerable households by providing sh5m per beneficiary to purchase livestock.

For the 2025/2026 financial year, the government allocated sh80b to the programme, with Gulu City receiving sh3.3b targeting 667 households.

With the verification now halted and disputes unresolved, concerns over fairness and accountability continue to cloud the rollout of the restocking programme in Gulu city.