Mbale District leaders have mounted pressure on Charles Wakubye, the District Environmental Officer, accusing him of misappropriating funds meant for implementing an environmental management program.
The program was designed to provide alternative livelihoods for individuals who had been growing rice in the wetlands under the Khamoto rice-growing scheme in Bungokho Sub-County.
In January and February 2025, the Ministry of Water and Environment, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), donated UGX 3 billion to the Mbale District local government to support the wetland restoration program.
The initiative offers a range of alternatives, including dairy farming, horticulture, fish farming, goat rearing, sewing machines, and poultry farming, to help affected residents transition to new economic activities. The government has prohibited human activities in wetlands, and those affected have been asked to vacate the area.
However, the District Environmental Officer is accused of inflating the prices of the 84 heifer cows and 132 goats that were distributed under the program. Wakubye claims to have imported the animals from Kenya, stating that he purchased each goat for UGX 400,000 and each cow for UGX 3 million. So far, 132 goats have been distributed to 120 people.
Residents, led by Kasayi Ivan, the Deputy Speaker of Bungokho Sub-County, allege that the prices of the animals were inflated, as the cows and goats they received were young, malnourished, and of poor quality.
Additionally, they claim there was a lack of transparency in the distribution process. Some of the alleged beneficiaries: Have never lived in the wetland,are related to Wakubye and received more animals than others.
Iddi Musamali, a resident of Nambale village, Bushikori Parish, also accused Wakubye of embezzling UGX 8.4 million allocated for handling costs. He noted that there was insufficient training for residents on how to care for the animals, as Wakubye allegedly refused to collaborate with other stakeholders.