The Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Pader District has remanded an Acholibur Sub-county Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) to prison over allegations of extorting money from beneficiaries of the government’s restocking programme. Joel Ayella, 34, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Sylvie Kampire on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and denied six charges of obtaining money by false pretence.
The prosecution alleges that on July 6, 2026, Ayella obtained Shs 50,000 from Francis Tabu after allegedly deceiving him that he would include his name on the list of beneficiaries under the government cattle restocking programme. He is further accused of obtaining another fifty thousand shillings from Cameron Michael on July 11.
The prosecution also alleges that Ayella obtained fifty thousand each from James Odokonyero, Michael Kidega, Hellen Anek and Simon Ocan in connection with the programme. The charges were read to Ayella before he applied for bail, asking the court to allow him to face the case while out of custody. He told the court that he has a pregnant wife, among other grounds.
Resident State Attorney Ivan Evans Kyazze told the court that the state had no objection to bail, provided the proposed sureties were substantial. Ayella presented his father and uncle as sureties. After reviewing their documents, the court granted him non-cash bail of one million shillings, while each surety was bonded at two million shillings.
The court adjourned the case to September 6, 2026, when Ayella is expected to return for further proceedings. The case comes amid growing concerns over the implementation of the government’s restocking programme in Acholi Sub-region, where progress has reportedly lagged behind other regions.
Pader District Internal Security Officer Godfrey Ekaba said his office has opened a general inquiry file at Pader Central Police Station to investigate allegations of extortion and other irregularities in the implementation of the restocking programme.
Ekaba warned that leaders found demanding money from beneficiaries would face disciplinary and administrative action. He said civil servants found culpable could be interdicted.
Pader District LCV Chairperson Alfred Akena has separately warned local leaders against altering beneficiary names under the programme. He said leaders involved in what he described as dubious deals involving changes to beneficiary lists would be held accountable.
According to Pader Woman Member of Parliament CD Lowila Oketayot, 80 billion shillings have been released for restocking programmes across Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
Lowila said Lango had utilized about 89 percent of its allocation, followed by Teso at 85.5 percent, while Acholi had utilized only 46 percent. She said Pader had recorded the lowest progress within Acholi, with 208 of the 582 targeted households benefiting, representing about 35 percent coverage as of last week-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
