KITGUM, April 28, 2026 — Authorities in Kitgum district have recovered Shs 6.1 million extorted from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [PDM] and remanded three parish-level suspects to Kitgum Government Prison, in a major anti-corruption drive led by the Office of the Resident District Commissioner [RDC].
Joseph Okidi, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner in charge of Chua West and Kitgum Municipality, confirmed the recovery, saying the money was traced across various parishes and sub-counties and has already been returned to the victims.
“As the Office of the RDC, we do not tolerate any form of corruption or extortion of groups,” Okidi said. “We have so far recovered a total of Shs 5,140,000 from Chua West and the Municipality. This money has been returned to the respective groups from which it was extorted.”
Geoffrey Oguti, the Assistant RDC in charge of Chua East, outlined three key cases behind the crackdown.
In Omiya Anyima Subcounty, Ronald Komakech, chairperson of a PDM SACCO, fraudulently obtained Shs 960,000 from beneficiaries. “The money was recovered and returned to the victims. Komakech is currently on remand at Kitgum Government Prison,” Mr Oguti said.
In Onyala Parish, Namokora Subcounty, Ocan Patrick allegedly confiscated beneficiaries’ national identity cards and MTN SIM cards in a scheme to extort Shs 29 million. No money has yet been recovered. He remains on remand at Kitgum Government Prison.
In Mucwini Sub-county, Jimmy Oyelolobo allegedly collected beneficiaries’ national identity cards and SIM cards, along with an undisclosed amount of money, which he failed to return. He is also on remand at Kitgum Government Prison.
Okidi said the most common method involved parish executives and, in some cases, civil servants working directly with PDM groups.
“In some instances, they use beneficiaries’ identity cards to access funds on their behalf and then divert the money for personal gain,” he explained. “These are mainly parish-level executives.”
He added that in one ongoing case, an unidentified suspect reportedly used two beneficiaries’ identity cards from Kitgum to access PDM funds in Agago district.
“When the rightful beneficiary later tries to access services, the system shows they have already received the funds,” Okidi said. “Investigations are ongoing, and we are confident the law will take its course. The police are handling their part.” He clarified that the suspect is not a civil servant but operates at parish level.
Okidi urged stakeholders at all levels to take a stand against corruption.
“I call upon all stakeholders at group, district and national levels to desist from such practices and actively fight corruption, so that PDM beneficiaries can access their funds and improve household incomes,” he said.
Okidi added that the aim is to ensure beneficiaries “are empowered to undertake genuine economic activities to support their families in their respective communities”.
Despite the reported fraud cases, Okidi said implementation of the government’s PDM programme in Kitgum is “progressing well”.
The PDM, launched in February 2022, is a flagship government initiative aimed at transitioning 39 per cent of Uganda’s population from subsistence farming to participation in the money economy.
Under the programme, each parish receives Shs 100mln to disburse to beneficiaries, who each receive Shs 1mln to invest in chosen enterprises such as coffee, dairy, piggery and poultry, among others.
In 2022, 14 technical and support staff of Kitgum District Local Government, including the then Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Joel Musisi, were arrested by Mr Jovin Kalisa, the Deputy National Coordinator of the Parish Development Model in the Office of the Prime Minister, over the alleged mismanagement of Shs 526.3mln.
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