Security probes disappearance of Shs100 million irrigation equipment in Pader

Pader: Security agencies in Pader District have launched investigations into the disappearance of five micro-scale irrigation equipment sets valued at more than Shs100 million, following allegations that district officials cannot account for the missing government-funded assets.

The directive was issued by Lt. Col. (Rtd) Ambako Kibrai, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation at the RDC Secretariat in the Office of the President, during an extraordinary security meeting held at the district headquarters.

The missing equipment is part of 26 micro-scale irrigation sets supplied to Pader District by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) under the government’s micro-scale irrigation programme. While 21 sets have reportedly been installed, five remain unaccounted for.

A report submitted to the Office of the President also indicates that several of the installed irrigation systems are malfunctioning due to poor installation.

Addressing district leaders and technical officers, Ambako described the matter as a suspected case of corruption and demanded accountability from officials overseeing the programme.

“Where is Philips Acaye, the District Senior Agricultural Engineer? Mr. Acaye, where are the irrigation kits? Yours is not working; it is supposed to be 26 sets where have the five gone? Even the one installed on your farm is not functioning,” Ambako said.

The district’s Senior Agricultural Engineer, Philips Acaye, did not respond to the allegations during the meeting.

Ambako directed the Resident District Commissioner’s office to immediately investigate the matter and submit a report to the Office of the President.

Launched in 2020, the government’s micro-scale irrigation programme is intended to help smallholder farmers sustain production throughout the year, particularly during dry seasons. Under the programme, farmers contribute 25 percent of the equipment cost while government finances the remaining 75 percent.

Each irrigation unit costs more than Shs20 million and is designed to irrigate between one and two acres of farmland. Beneficiaries are also expected to receive training in modern farming practices and grow high-value horticultural crops such as tomatoes, onions, carrots and eggplants.

Ambako questioned how the programme could succeed when even the demonstration irrigation system belonging to the district’s senior agricultural engineer was reportedly non-functional.

“Imagine, the entire senior agricultural engineer’s irrigation system is not working. Yours was supposed to be the model farm that everyone could learn from, yet it has also failed. What can we expect from other farmers?” he asked.

Responding to the concerns, Seydou Adolaton, the Pader District Production Officer, said the district would cooperate fully with investigators to establish the whereabouts of the missing irrigation systems and determine why they were never installed.

He noted that the project involved several technical processes, including beneficiary selection.

Pader Resident District Commissioner Amos Assiimwe Bangyi confirmed that investigations would begin immediately.

“We have taken note of the concerns raised and shall begin investigations without delay,” Bangyi said.

Meanwhile, Pader Chief Administrative Officer Margaret Adong warned public officials against engaging in corruption, citing President Museveni’s anti-corruption campaign.

‘’No more sleep, no corruption’ remains the President’s guiding principle. Those involved in corruption should know that accountability can come at any time,” Adong said.

Investigators are expected to examine the procurement, delivery and allocation of the irrigation equipment, as well as the reported failures affecting several of the installed systems.

Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.