PDM: Seven arrested over embezzlement of Shs 50mln in Namutumba

NAMUTUMBA, October 13, 2024 – Seven officials in Namutumba district are in police custody after failing to account for Shs 50 million intended for the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [PDM].

The PDM officials from Nsinze Town Council were arrested during an operation led by Deputy Resident District Commissioner [DRDC] Paul Waiswa over the weekend.

Nsinze Town Council Secretary, Totorian Waiswa who was among those arrested, denied the allegations of misappropriating government money, insisting that records showing accountability of the funds are available.

DRDC Paul Waiswa confirmed the arrests, emphasising that the suspects had betrayed the trust placed in them to manage PDM funds for community development. “This is outright theft of public funds meant to uplift our communities. We will not tolerate any form of corruption,” he said.

He issued a stern warning to all PDM leaders across Namutumba district, cautioning them against misappropriating government funds. “Let this be a lesson to everyone. PDM money is meant to benefit the poor Ugandans. Anyone found tampering with these funds will face the full force of the law,” he warned.

The suspects remain in custody at Namutumba Central Police Station as investigations continue. Waiswa reassured the public that all efforts will be made to ensure justice is served and to restore confidence in the implementation of the programme.

The PDM was launched in February 2022 by government, aimed at alleviating poverty at the grassroots level by providing financial support to the active poor to invest in chosen enterprises such as coffee, dairy farming, piggery, fish farming, and poultry keeping among others. Several cases of abuse of the programme have been uncovered in rural areas, with project leaders implicated in numerous fraudulent schemes.

https://thecooperator.news/namutumba-officials-remanded-over-theft-of-pdm-cash/