Kiryandongo PDM SACCO stuck with Shs 75mln as leaders imprisoned over extortion
The extortionists were convicted and sentenced by the Kiryandongo Chief Magistrate, Samson Loum Abit, in September this year after being found guilty of obtaining money by false pretence from the programme beneficiaries
KIRYANDONGO, November 11, 2025 — Shs 75 million disbursed by government to Mpumwe Parish Development Model Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation [Mpumwe PDM SACCO] in Kiryandongo district remains undistributed to beneficiaries, following the conviction and sentencing of the SACCO leaders for extortion.
Addressing a budget conference recently at the district headquarters, Hassan Byenkya, the Kiryandongo District Production and Marketing Officer, noted that the entire executive of the SACCO had been convicted of extortion and each sentenced to one year in prison.
“A new executive has been elected and will soon begin disbursing the funds to the rightful beneficiaries,” he said, adding that political leaders have not helped much in combating extortion.
Byenkya, who also serves as the PDM Focal Person for Kiryandongo district, observed that many people, including the beneficiaries of the programme, tend to cover up extortionists, something he strongly condemned.
“If we are to combat extortion in PDM, we have to work together so that the beneficiaries receive their money without any disturbances,” he said.
The extortionists were convicted and sentenced by the Kiryandongo Chief Magistrate, Samson Loum Abit, in September this year after being found guilty of obtaining money by false pretence from the programme beneficiaries.
According to prosecution, the convicted individuals extorted a total of Shs 660,000 from six different PDM SACCOs, charging Shs 110,000 from each.
The convicted individuals include: Eunice Amsolo [Secretary]; Joel Aluku [Treasurer]; Patrick Bigirwa [Chairperson]; Jacob Mukwana [Publicity Secretary]; and another SACCO leader whose name was not disclosed.
Origin of the arrests
Their arrest followed a community baraza [public meeting] where reports of widespread extortion in Mpumwe Parish, Kigumba Sub-county, emerged.
Investigations revealed that most of the extortion cases in the district had been perpetrated by PDM SACCO leaders themselves, who demanded illegal payments from programme beneficiaries.
Previous cases
Kiryandongo district authorities have recorded several cases of extortion in the PDM programme, particularly involving SACCO leadership and some parish chiefs.
In mid-August, two other individuals were arrested: Ibra Kisembo, the Parish Chief of Nyamahasa Parish, and Stanley Odeke, Chairperson of a PDM SACCO in Kigumba Sub-county.
Kisembo was accused of extorting over Shs 7mln, while Odeke reportedly demanded Shs 200,000 from each of four beneficiaries, promising them a soft loan of Shs 1mln that every programme beneficiary is entitled to receive.
In April this year, four others were arrested for the alleged theft of Shs 1 million meant for PDM beneficiaries. Those implicated included: Juliet Katusabe, Town Agent for Northern Ward, Kiryandongo Town Council; Edward Katusiime, PDM Enterprise Leader from Mukonogum Cell; Mary Atim, Secretary in the District Production Department; and a SACCO leader identified only as Anguliga.
Investigations found that the suspects had fraudulently used the national ID details of Oliva Katusiime, a resident of Runyanya Village, to withdraw PDM funds without her knowledge.
About PDM in Kiryandongo
According to Byenkya, since the inception of PDM in 2022, Kiryandongo district has received Shs 13.2 billion, which has been disbursed to 13,177 beneficiaries.
“Each parish has so far received over Shs 307mln, distributed to an average of 307 beneficiaries,” he said.
He further noted that the government has provided tablets to all 43 parish chiefs, all 13 community development officers, 43 PDM SACCO chairpersons, the District Commercial Officer, Operation Wealth Creation Coordinator, among others.
The Parish Development Model, launched in February 2022, is a government initiative aimed at lifting 3.5 million households out of poverty and integrating them into the cash economy.
Under the programme, each qualifying beneficiary invests the loans received in selected enterprises such as coffee, dairy farming, fish farming, piggery, and poultry keeping, among others.
Emyooga
Sam Kasumba, the Commercial Officer for Kiryandongo district, told stakeholders that the district has so far received Shs 1.3bln under the Emyooga programme.
He added that Shs 1.2bln had been disbursed to different SACCOs, while Shs 396mln has been recovered.
https://thecooperator.news/kiryandongo-unveils-training-centres-to-support-pdm-implementation/
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