LIRA CITY, UGANDA — A concerned citizen of Lira City East Division has formally opened a general inquiry file at Lira Central Police Station, accusing six women and one man from Tomato Ward of fraudulently obtaining government funds by falsely claiming to be widows and a widower.
Mike Adoko, who has registered the case under reference number GEF 018/2026, alleges that the six women each received Shs5 million from the government's restocking program by claiming their husbands are dead—yet their husbands are alive and well-known within the community.
The accused individuals have been named as Grace Arao, whose husband Adoko says is known as Dokolinga; Christine Makunde, who Adoko claims is the wife of the son of the LC1 Market Square; Apili Eunice, whose husband is reportedly alive; Gillian Adongo, the wife of former councilor and now civil servant Geoffrey Obote Atyang; Nasanga Margret, the wife of the GISO Railways Division who also serves as LC2 of Temogo; and businesswoman Pamela Awelo.
Adoko specifically raised concerns about Nasanga Margret's eligibility, pointing out that she is not a northerner and therefore should not have been entitled to funds meant for the region's communities.
"When these people collected the money, they did so in disguise that their husbands are dead. Yet the community knows them, and their husbands are alive," Adoko stated during an appearance on Qfm's Yitetwolo morning talkback show, which was also broadcast live on Oroma TV.
He has demanded that the accused individuals present death certificates to police on Wednesday to prove their status as widows and widower. Adoko also wants Uganda Revenue Authority receipts from the police officer handling the file, who claims that the GISO Railways Division Ahmed Mohamed Were has already returned the Shs5 million he received.
The allegations come amid widespread scrutiny of the government's Shs80 billion cattle restocking programme, which was launched to rebuild livestock wealth in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions following years of insurgency and displacement . Each beneficiary household was entitled to Shs5 million to purchase five animals under the initiative .
However, the programme has been marred by controversy, with investigations revealing that some local officials allegedly registered themselves, relatives, and ineligible individuals while sidelining vulnerable households, including widows, elderly persons, and former abductees . In some cases, local leaders were accused of listing their own wives as widows and registering able-bodied individuals as persons with disabilities .
Adoko also revealed that he has opened a separate case after receiving threats to his life, which he believes are linked to his exposure of the alleged corruption.
"I am getting threats for my life, and I suspect it could be as a result of exposing this corruption," he said.
He vowed to continue his campaign against corruption, declaring that he will not be intimidated. "I will bring the corrupt to book," Adoko said.
The case is now under investigation by police at Lira City Central Police Station .
