Some Friesian cows that the government pledged to give to the low-income earners in Mukono district under the poverty alleviation program Operation Wealth Creation were delivered to the beneficiaries on Monday. But some residents were taken aback on learning that one of the beneficiaries was the government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo resident of Ntawo in Mukono district. Following the complaint, Opondo and his wife returned the cow to the officials of Operation Wealth Creation in Mukono district. “When my wife applied for the cow and the due diligence was done, and she was given. When I heard the noise from...” Said, Ofwono Opondo – Government Spokesperson.

Now well as Opondo claimed that the cow was given to his wife who applied for it, the list of beneficiaries that NTV had obtained indicated that the Friesian cow was given to Ofwono Opondo. He explained that these cows are expensive to look after. People of inadequate financial means may not cope and the cows could die hence frustrating the government’s program to improve livelihoods. “This thing so far in two days alone, I have spent 100,000; I have done injectable, I have done tick spraying, and I have done deworming. Because it had traveled, when the Vets came to check, it was as if perhaps to grab misery, there were some signs, so they treated. So these things don’t actually need the so called poor of the poor, it needs some people with the ability.” Said, Ofwono Opondo. Some district counselors also received the cows. “First of all, as a principle; I think counselors should get because I don’t think a sub-county counselor is terribly a rich.” Said, Ofwono Opondo.

The officer in-charge of Operation Wealth Creation in Mukono district Robert Sempebwa acknowledged the anomaly made during registration and distribution of the animal. “I was never consulted though I was supposed to guide the process.” Said, Robert Sempebwa. Similar complaints of the well-connected district, another government official getting Operation Wealth Creation items especially cows were been recorded in other districts like Masaka and Sembabule.