Three Kabarole PDM officials arrested over Extortion
KABAROLE, December 9, 2024 — Three officials from the Parish Development Model [PDM] in Kiko Town Council, Kabarole district, have been arrested for allegedly obtaining money through false pretences.
The suspects, identified as Edison Mohammed, the Kasiisi Ward PDM SACCO Chairperson; Jack Turyamusanga, Chairperson of the Nyabubale Ward PDM SACCO; and Joyce Kangume, the Kasiisi Ward PDM SACCO Treasurer, were arrested on Friday.
Festus Bandeeba, the Kabarole Resident District Commissioner (RDC), who authorised the arrests, revealed that he had received numerous complaints from community members, alleging that the suspects had solicited money in exchange for being included on the list of PDM beneficiaries.
“I received several complaints from community members, and although very few had substantial evidence, it became clear that many people had been asked to pay money,” Bandeeba said. He identified extortion as a major issue undermining the core objectives of the PDM initiative, which aims to help the active poor in Uganda escape poverty.
Under the PDM, the government provides Shs 1 million to each beneficiary for investment in enterprises such as piggery, poultry farming, dairy, beekeeping, crop farming, and fruit growing, among others.
“I urge beneficiaries to resist giving money to anyone claiming to facilitate access to PDM funds. Accessing the funds is free,” Bandeeba stated. “I condemn the unethical actions of leaders who exploit the trust of community members for personal gain.”
Bright Jaba Steven, the Mayor of Kiko Town Council, expressed his dismay at the situation, acknowledging that while beneficiaries were informed not to pay anyone to access the funds, desperation had made them vulnerable to extortion. He called for justice to be served and encouraged the community to report such incidents.
Victims Speak Out
Several victims have come forward to report their experiences. Godfrey Baguma, a PDM SACCO member, said Edison Mohammed had demanded Shs 50,000 from him to ensure his inclusion on the beneficiaries’ list.
Madina Kusemererwa, another victim, revealed that although she signed for Shs 1 million, she received only Shs 800,000.
Similarly, Posiano Karusa disclosed that he was asked to pay Shs 200,000 with the promise of being the first recipient of the funds. However, he has yet to benefit from the programme.
Bandeeba noted that this incident is not an isolated case, stating that his office had previously handled similar cases. Currently, three such cases are in court, and two additional files have been sanctioned by the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP].
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that PDM funds are used appropriately and benefit the intended poor communities. Authorities have vowed to continue cracking down on corruption to maintain the integrity of development initiatives in the district.
About PDM
Launched in February 2022, the PDM aims to benefit 39 percent of the active poor in Uganda and help them escape poverty by improving their household incomes through commercial production. Enterprises such as dairy, coffee, bananas, piggery, grains, cereals, and fish farming are targeted.
The PDM is an approach to organising and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation at the parish level, which serves as the lowest economic unit for planning, budgeting, reporting, and delivering interventions by both state and non-state actors.
The parish is the focal point for multi-sectoral community development, implementation, supervision, monitoring, and accountability. The LCII Chairperson and the parish chief are responsible for political leadership in the implementation of the parish model, with support from the sub-county and district technical planning committees.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-transforming-lives-of-locals-in-kapelebyong-district/
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