Concerns Emerge Over Missing UGX 200 Million Donated by President Museveni for Northern Uganda Peace Week

Koboko, Uganda – Nearly two months after the conclusion of the 2025 Northern Uganda Peace Week, growing concerns have surfaced over the UGX 200 million reportedly donated by President Yoweri Museveni to support the event. The funds, which were intended to aid in organizing the week-long event, appear to have been mismanaged, with the money allegedly not reaching the intended organizers.

The Northern Uganda Peace Week, hosted by Arua Catholic Diocese at Koboko Catholic Parish from January 20th to 24th, attracted over 5,000 visitors, including five bishops, district khadis, cultural leaders, and other dignitaries. The event, aimed at promoting peace in the region, had a budget exceeding UGX 200 million. However, organizers revealed that they only managed to raise less than UGX 40 million in cash to fund the event.

It was only a day before the event's conclusion that the UGX 200 million donation from President Museveni was reportedly handed over to Arua Diocese. Tom Obeti Adraka, the Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee (COC), raised alarm over the funds, claiming that since the donation was transferred to Arua Diocese, neither the committee nor the local leaders in Koboko have had access to it. Adraka further stated that the committee had financial obligations exceeding UGX 100 million, but the funds from the President have not been utilized to meet those needs.

Adraka shared that he has been under significant pressure from fellow organizers and local leaders in Koboko to account for the missing money. However, aside from a UGX 20 million contribution from the NRM Secretariat and a UGX 10 million personal donation from Hajjat Madinah Ojale, the Director of Finance at the NRM Secretariat, no further financial support has been forthcoming.

Koboko District LC5 Chairman Ashraf Mambo, who played a key role in organizing the Peace Week, had promised to lead a delegation—including organizers and the press—to the Chancery of Arua Diocese last week to seek clarity on the whereabouts of the missing funds. However, this meeting has not yet taken place, further raising suspicions among local leaders and the community.

Hajjat Madinah Ojale, who had been instrumental in organizing the event, expressed concerns in the Kakwa dialect over the alleged mismanagement of the funds. 

She claimed that the UGX 200 million donation was deposited directly into the Arua Diocese's account rather than the official Peace Week account.

 “I heard that the money has been diverted to the Arua Diocese account, which I find unfair because President Museveni gave it for Peace Week activities. I will follow up with the President to understand why this happened because we expected this money to support church programs in Koboko Parish,” she said.

Local leaders are now calling for transparency and accountability regarding the funds, as the community remains uncertain about how the donation was handled. With the future of the Peace Week event and the community's trust at stake, the issue has sparked a heated debate about financial management and the accountability of donations in local events.