NYAGATARE – Several local leaders in Rukomo sector, Nyagatare district have been accused of keeping to themselves cows meant for residents under the government cattle restocking programme of the one-cow per family.  

Speaking to The New Times on Tuesday, residents said all cross-breeds and exotic cows meant for poor residents were instead given to local leaders. 

‘They (local leaders) said we were not capable of looking after them yet it is absolutely wrong,’ an angry resident said. 

Residents who have now termed the programme in the sector as ‘One cow per local leader’ appealed for government intervention. 

However, Alexander Rwabigwi, the sector veterinarian said he gave a nod to the arrangement. 

"It is true that we decided to give the cross-breeds and exotic cows to local leaders who could manage them. This was after we realised that most of residents had no capacity to look after them,” he said.

The revelation comes weeks after the office of the Ombudsman launched investigations into the mismanagement of several government poverty reduction programmes in the districts, as part of activities to mark the anti-corruption week.

And in Nyagatare, the officials from the Ombudsman office have picked interest in this particular project- in an attempt to establish how the cows ended up in the hands of local leaders.

Initial reports indicate that the programme benefited people from well-to do- families, leaving majority of the poor in the cold.

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