Kumi, Uganda – Three prominent leaders in Okudumo Parish have been arrested after allegations surfaced that they were extorting money from local residents to include them in the Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
The arrests followed mounting concerns over widespread corruption within the PDM process, which is meant to support poverty alleviation through government assistance.
The arrested individuals – Isudo Julius, the Parish Chief, Ojangole Joseph, the PDM SACCO Chairperson and Amuge Sarah, the PDM SACCO Secretary – are accused of demanding bribes from villagers, ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 shillings, in exchange for securing their inclusion in the PDM beneficiary list.
The arrests came after a public outcry during a general meeting at the Mukongoro Sub County Local Government Headquarters.
Local authorities had gathered to address concerns about fraudulent practices undermining the integrity of the PDM process.
Community members voiced their frustrations, reporting that they had been coerced into paying bribes for what was supposed to be a free and fair process.
James Kyomya, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kumi, confirmed the arrests and revealed that multiple complaints had been filed against the suspects.
He shared that one particularly disturbing case involved an elderly woman who was forced to sell sorghum to pay a bribe to local officials, only to later find out she was not included in the PDM list.
Kyomya expressed his outrage, calling for immediate action.
“This is a clear abuse of power. These funds were intended to uplift the community, not to fill the pockets of local leaders. We have records of communication from the affected residents, and this will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Deputy RDC further explained that some residents had reported paying significant sums to secure a place on the list, with amounts ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 shillings.
He emphasized that the President has consistently made it clear that the PDM process should be free of charge and that anyone exploiting the system would face severe consequences.
Ojangole Joseph, one of the arrested suspects, admitted to collecting the funds, but claimed the money was shared among several local leaders.
He expressed regret for his actions and promised to refund the affected individuals.
Authorities have pledged to continue investigating the scandal and ensure that justice is served.
Kyomya issued a stern warning: “We are committed to rooting out corruption and ensuring that the PDM process remains fair and transparent for all.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Teso News Network
