Namisindwa: Four arrested over extorting PDM beneficiaries
NAMISINDWA, October 25, 2023 – Three officials from Bukhabusi Sub-county in Namisindwa district have been arrested for allegedly asking the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [PDM] to give them part of the money received.
Those arrested include Willy Namanda, the parish chief of Bukhabusi, Fred Kamuli, the LCII chairperson of Bukhabusi parish, Michael Wandukwa, the chairperson, Bukhabusi PDM SACCO, and his secretary Robert Kuloba.
The suspects were arrested on the orders of Imran Muluga, the Namisindwa Resident District Commissioner who was recently addressing parish chiefs and sub-county community development officers during a consultative meeting held at the district headquarters.
According to Muluga, his office has received complaints from the sub-counties of Bukhabusi, Namitsa, and Mukhuyu, about extortion.
During the meeting, Muluga asked other parish chiefs in the district who have extorted money from the PDM beneficiaries to refund it before Monday next week or face arrest.
Bwayo Kitumbesi, the Namisindwa district vice chairperson said the arrests are meant to prevent more cases of extortion.
Andrew Wabweni, the Namisindwa PDM focal person said that the district received Shs 17.5 billion for the PDM beneficiaries.
He adds that as a district they are ready to deal with any staff that will be found getting soliciting money from the PDM beneficiaries.
Leonard Kitavujja, the Namisindwa district Chief Administrative Officer threatened to dismiss any parish chief found guilty of extorting money from the programme’s beneficiaries.
The PDM was launched in February 2022 with the aim to move 3.5 million households still in the subsistence economy to the money economy.
Under the programme, each beneficiary is supposed to receive Shs 1mln to invest in enterprises such as coffee, bananas, dairy farming, fish farming, piggery, poultry keeping, grains, and fruits growing among others.
https://thecooperator.news/namisindwa-pdm-officials-arrested-over-extortion/
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