Two suspects arrested over theft of PDM funds in Kole district
KOLE, June 24, 2025 –– Police in Kole District have arrested two suspects in connection with the theft of Shs 50 million intended for beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [ PDM ], government programme meant to fight household poverty.
The suspects, identified as Martin Olila and Denis Omodi, both residents of Okwor village in Ayer Sub-county, Kole district, are accused of unlawfully withdrawing the funds and misappropriating them.
According to Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, the suspects, along with others still at large, allegedly withdrew the PDM funds from the SACCO bank account without the knowledge of the intended beneficiaries.
“It is alleged that on 2 June 2025, the suspects and others still at large went to the bank and withdrew Shs 50 million from the Parish SACCO account and absconded with the money,” Okema stated.
He further revealed that a total of Shs 21 million has since been recovered from one of the suspects. “Cash amounting to Shs 21 million was recovered from suspect Martin Olila. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects altered the list of beneficiaries, inserting new names in place of the original members,” he added.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. The police have vowed to take firm action against individuals undermining government programmes.
“Our operations to arrest the other suspects continue. As the police, we are committed to acting decisively against those sabotaging government initiatives and pledge to leave no stone unturned when corruption is reported,” Okema affirmed.
A General Enquiry File [GEF] has been opened and is being compiled for submission to the Resident State Attorney [RSA] for further legal action.
Launched in February 2022, the PDM is a government strategy designed to coordinate and deliver public and private sector interventions aimed at wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level – the lowest economic planning unit.
The PDM is structured around seven key pillars: production, processing and marketing [value chain development]; infrastructure and economic services; financial inclusion; social services; community data [Community Information System]; governance and administration; and mindset change.
The government has prioritised a range of commodities under the PDM, including coffee, cotton, cocoa, cassava, tea, vegetables, palm oil, maize, rice, sugarcane, fish, piggery, dairy, beef, poultry, bananas, beans, avocado, shea nut, cashew nuts, and macadamia nuts. Each PDM beneficiary is entitled to receive a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in these enterprises, as part of the government’s broader goal to transition 3.5 million households from subsistence to the money economy.
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