The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has issued a firm warning against fraudulent practices affecting beneficiaries of the Cattle Restocking Programme in Acholic, Lango, and Teso sub-regions following reports of officials demanding pre-signed payment forms.

In a clarification notice dated April 8, 2026, OPM condemned the emerging practice where some Local Government officials require beneficiaries to sign declaration forms confirming receipt of funds before any payment is made.

The directive specifically highlighted incidents in Gulu City, where such irregular procedures have reportedly taken place.

Programme Background 

The Cattle Restocking Programme is a Presidential directive, operationalized under Cabinet Minute 406 (CT 2025) and Cabinet Minute 21 (CT 2026). It provides UGX 5,000,000 per household to eligible beneficiaries in 33 Local Governments across the three sub-regions for the procurement of five animals (three heifers and two bulls). The programme is financed entirely by the Government of Uganda, with an allocation of UGX 80 billion for FY 2025/26. Funds will be disbursed directly to verified beneficiaries by OPM through bank accounts or registered mobile money lines.

OPM Condemns Pre-Signing of Forms

According to OPM, asking beneficiaries to sign forms before receiving funds is a clear violation of approved implementation guidelines.

The office warned that pre-signing creates a risk for false financial accountability, exposes beneficiaries to fraud and exploitation and it undermines trust in government programmes.

“This practice is firmly condemned,” the notice emphasized.

Official Process Clarified

The government outlined the correct procedure to ensure transparency:

- Beneficiaries will be identified and verified by District Technical Teams, At the Parish level, the Parish Development Committee will first list the number of households in a given parish and from this list, identify and consolidate the beneficiaries for that parish in line with the funds available for that parish in a given financial year. The Chief Administrative Officer will consolidate and send the beneficiary list to the MoICT and MOLG. 

- Verified beneficiary lists are submitted to OPM through the Ministry of Local Government. OPM then disburses funds directly to each beneficiary's bank account or registered mobile money number.

- The declaration on the Beneficiary Form constitutes an acknowledgement of receipt and must only be signed after the full amount of UGX 5,000,000 has been received by the beneficiary.

This process is designed to safeguard public funds and ensure rightful beneficiaries receive their entitlements.

Beneficiaries Urged to Stay Alert

The government has strongly advised beneficiaries not to sign any document confirming receipt of funds they have not yet received.

Anyone asked to pre-sign such forms is urged to report immediately to district authorities or directly to OPM.

Government Reaffirms Commitment

The Government of Uganda reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the implementation of the programme.

Authorities say strict adherence to guidelines will ensure that all funds reach intended beneficiaries without interference.