One person has been charged with theft over an alleged fraud involving Shs500 million meant to compensate victims of cattle losses suffered during past insurgencies in Apac District.
Otwang Moses was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lira District following investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit at State House in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit, Otwang and other suspects who are still at large allegedly stole the money from several victims between May 2024 and June 2025.
The money was reportedly intended to compensate victims whose cattle were lost during insurgencies in northern Uganda.
The Anti-Corruption Unit announced the prosecution in a statement, saying Otwang had been charged with theft.
The case comes as government has shifted from the previous cattle compensation arrangements towards a cattle restocking programme targeting households in the Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
Under the new programme, Cabinet approved a flat Shs5 million payment per eligible household to enable beneficiaries to restock their livestock. The programme targets 16,000 households in its first phase and is backed by Shs80 billion for the 2025/26 financial year.
The government initially considered providing live cattle but later opted for cash payments, with officials saying the arrangement would be easier to administer. Each household is expected to use the Shs5 million to acquire three heifers and two bulls.
The new programme is intended to address the effects of past insurgencies and cattle losses in the three sub-regions.
The Office of the Prime Minister has since warned against fraudulent practices in the programme. In April, it cautioned local government officials against asking beneficiaries to sign forms confirming receipt of the Shs5 million before the money had actually been paid.
The OPM said beneficiary identification and verification must be conducted through district technical teams and parish structures, with payments made directly to verified beneficiaries’ bank accounts or registered mobile money lines.
The latest prosecution in Apac therefore adds another corruption case to a programme rooted in one of northern Uganda’s longest-running grievances: the loss of livestock during years of insurgency and the subsequent struggle by affected communities to obtain compensation.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said investigations into the Apac fraud are continuing, with other suspects still at large.