EDITOR
Authorities in Kanungu District have arrested six Parish Development Model (PDM) officials in Buhoma Town Council for allegedly misappropriating PDM funds and extorting money from residents seeking to benefit from the government’s Parish Development Model programme.
The suspects have been identified as Arinaitwe Herbert, a town agent; Magezi Moses, a town agent; Kyomuhendo Doreeka, a cleaner at Buhoma Town Council; Ariho Brian, the Community Development Officer (CDO) at Buhoma Town Council; Ninshaba Sam; and Kanyesigye Frank.
They were apprehended on Wednesday on the orders of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kanungu District, Ambrose Amanyire Mwesigye.
Their arrest followed a heated community baraza meeting organised by the Office of the RDC in Kanungu District. The meeting was held at Kanyanshande Church of Uganda (COU) in Northern Ward, Buhoma Town Council, where residents raised several complaints against the suspects.
Community members, including Tugabirwe Yeremia, Tweheyo James, and Bernarda Tugabirwe, accused the suspects of charging beneficiaries Shs 50,000 as a condition for accessing PDM funds. Those who reportedly failed to pay the money were denied the opportunity to benefit from the government programme.
Residents also accused Kyomuhendo Doreeka, the cleaner at Buhoma Town Council, and Ariho Brian, the CDO, of collecting national identity cards and Shs 50,000 from residents with the intention of helping them access the PDM funds.
Members of the PDM SACCO committees also accused their leaders, headed by the SACCO chairpersons, of distributing PDM funds without holding meetings with committee members. They noted that SACCO leaders are now making decisions on their own regarding the management and distribution of the funds.
In their defence, the suspects denied the allegations of extorting money from residents. They admitted collecting national identity cards but claimed the cards were intended to help correct names and National Identification Numbers (NINs) of beneficiaries.
However, RDC Ambrose Amanyire Mwesigye dismissed their explanation, describing the practice as illegal and a betrayal of public trust. He emphasized that his office will not tolerate any cases of corruption.
The RDC reaffirmed his commitment to arresting SACCO leaders who defraud beneficiaries of PDM funds despite mounting criticism.
He urged PDM beneficiaries to remain vigilant and work towards improving their livelihoods, assuring them of strict monitoring of the funds and the arrest of anyone found misusing the programme.
RDC Amanyire also warned beneficiaries against using the funds for unproductive activities, noting that the money is a revolving fund that must be repaid so that others can also benefit.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Deputy RDC for Kanungu District, Nakahe Kabonge Catherine, urged local leaders not to wait for the RDC’s office to organise baraza meetings, but instead to mobilise meetings within their communities to address issues affecting residents.
The suspects are currently detained at Kanungu Police Station pending further investigations.
