OBED
Two more Kabale district officials have been arrested in connection with the missing shillings 289 million Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
The arrested are; the District Commercial Officer Erasmus Natumanya, and Julius Mujuni, the District Chief Finance Officer.
Natumanya and Mujuni had gone on the run when the former Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer Edmund Ntimba, now serving in Mitooma district was arrested together with the District Community Development Officer Christopher Namara, the District Production, and Marketing Officer Beda Mwebesa, and the district planning officer Boaz Kakuru.
They were arrested after failing to explain the whereabouts of the money during an impromptu meeting about the progress of the PDM program in the district organized by Joveline Kalisa Kyomukama, Deputy National Coordinator MPD project in the Ministry of Local government.
In February, the government wired 400 million Shillings to the Kabale district account meant for parish Savings and Credit Cooperative Society in sub-counties. According to the terms, the district officials were ordered not to withdraw the money until the government issues fresh guidelines for proper use. But however, the district staff disbursed only 111 million Shillings.
The Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed to our reporter today morning that Natumanya and Mujuni were arrested on Sunday evening after being lured by security authorities that once they report to Kabale police station, the matter will be handled and they get released. Maate said that after their reporting, they were immediately arrested. Maate also said that now all the six officials are being quizzed. He adds that further management into the matter will be communicated.
By press time, all the six suspects were making statements. Mwebesa was also seen being taken by police detectives to District headquarters to intensify investigations.
Parish Development Model is a Government strategy or approach for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit. This is aimed at ensuring support for more Ugandans to increase their demand for goods and services.
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