Moroto, Uganda – The fight against corruption under the Parish Development Model (PDM) intensified as President Yoweri Museveni issued a stern warning against theft and mismanagement of funds during his regional tours.
The President called upon law enforcement agencies to act decisively against offenders, vowing to protect government projects intended to uplift communities from poverty.
This comes as the Uganda Police Force has apprehended 13 suspects in connection with the misappropriation of PDM funds across Serere, Amudat, and Moroto districts.
These arrests follow a series of investigations and complaints exposing irregularities in the distribution and management of funds intended for grassroots economic transformation.
Serere District
In Kadungulu Sub County, police uncovered extensive theft of PDM funds during inspections by the PDM Secretariat. Key findings included:
Unauthorized use of national IDs to register beneficiaries who were unaware of their inclusion.
Double allocation of funds to households and individuals ineligible under the program.
Beneficiaries drawn from parishes not designated for funding.
This led to the arrest of eight individuals, including prominent local leaders:
Mr. Eluru Sam, LC3 Chairperson of Kadungulu Sub County.
Mr. Ogwang James, Parish Chief of Kabulabula Parish.
Mr. Obeke James, LC2 Chairperson of Kabulabula Parish.
SACCO leaders Mr. Eyobu Simon and Mr. Oyunai Bosco.
Amudat District
In Lokales Parish, authorities discovered that parish chiefs deleted names of rightful beneficiaries, replacing them with ineligible individuals. Police apprehended four suspects involved in the scam.
Moroto Districts
An 84-year-old woman, Ateko Teresa, exposed a shocking exploitation scheme.
The SACCO treasurer, Moru Joyce, allegedly exploited Teresa’s advanced age, tricking her into applying for PDM funds.
Joyce withdrew UGX 1,000,000 under Teresa’s name but returned only UGX 100,000.
Following the complaint, Joyce was arrested, charged, and remanded to Moroto Government Prisons on November 22, 2024.
Museveni’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption underlines the importance of safeguarding public funds.
He emphasized that PDM, a cornerstone of his government’s poverty eradication agenda, must directly benefit the intended beneficiaries without interference.
The Uganda Police Force and the PDM Secretariat continue to investigate irregularities across the country. Authorities pledged to recover stolen funds and bring all culprits to justice.
Communities have expressed anger and disappointment over the betrayal of trust by local leaders. Many victims, especially the elderly and vulnerable, have called for stringent measures to prevent future mismanagement.
The crackdown on PDM fund mismanagement is a clear signal that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and protecting the welfare of its citizens.
As investigations progress, the public awaits justice for those exploited and a firm resolution to safeguard Uganda’s development programs.
With the arrests and President Museveni’s directive, the fight against corruption under PDM enters a decisive phase, aiming to restore public trust in government initiatives.