Forgive us our sins: Rwampara, Ngora officials return stolen PDM cash
MBARARA-Rwampara District Chief Administrative Officer, Stephen Rubaihayo and District Production Officer, Athanathias Gumisiriza have returned Parish Development Model [PDM] cash they had stolen after they were arrested by police.
The arrest followed a public complaint. Investigations showed about Shs 110 million meant to facilitate PDM activities in Rwampara district had been stolen by civil servants led by the CAO.
Rubaihayo and Gumisiriza were arrested, accused of sabotaging PDM, and then detained at Kinoni police station for more than two days before they agreed to return the cash.
Rwampara Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Jane Asiimwe Muhindo said they were now streamlining the PDM programme after it was mismanaged by corrupt officials.
“I am happy to note that most of the commitments signed during the district stakeholders meeting have been honoured. Today, Shs 12 mln that was meant to facilitate civil servants during PDM activities has been received by agriculture extension workers,” she said.
They had managed to secure bank statements of all the 29 PDM Saccos, got proper information on the Shs 79 mln that was meant to facilitate staff, but was not used and later taken back to Kampala, she added.
On the illegal money that officials got from groups in Bugamba Sub-county, she said: “We have also made sure that the money that was solicited from the members of the public in Bugamba Sub-county during group formation was also refunded.”
The district leaders have also resolved to make schedules and move as a team to verify parish PDM Sacco leadership and also monitor other government programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] and others.
Meanwhile, six senior Ngora district local government officials days ago succumbed to pressure and refunded half of the Shs 200 mln they embezzled from PDM fund.
Ngora RDC John Stephen Ekoom had ordered their arrest on sight. Instead they came clean and sent back Shs 100 mln with a promise to repay the rest within days.
The implicated officials are: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Lawrence Wadada; District Planner, Priscilla Margery Asio; Chief Finance Officer, Charles Kejju Elungat; Senior Commercial Officer, Mackay Otai; District Production Officer, Jacob Oluka, and District Community Development Officer, Francis Egunyu.
The money was intended for PDM 73 Saccos in the district for the months of July and August
Ekoom and LC V Chairman Mike Odong Lo’Asio confirmed the accused officials had already paid back Shs 100 mln.
“The officials had kept the money meant for Saccos for personal use. And they have promised to refund the balance of the money. I have instructed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to carry investigations against the suspects,” Ekoom said.
Through the PDM government wants to move 3.5 mln households that are still in subsistence farming into the money economy. Beginning with the current financial year, government is committed to giving each of the 10,594 parishes Shs 100mln revolving fund for organised groups to borrow and engage in incoming-generating activities. This will be done for five years.
https://thecooperator.news/misuse-of-pdm-cash-nwoya-rdc-orders-arrest-of-officials/
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