By Walter Okello
Kole, Uganda | Police in Kole District have recorded statements from at least 26 members of Ayamo Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO accusing their chairperson, Tom Okello, of extorting money and demanding sexual favours in exchange for approving access to PDM funds.
The complaints emerged strongly during a meeting held on March 24, 2026, with residents of Ayamo Parish in Okwerodot Subcounty where many people are coming forward with similar grievances on how they were mistreated during the process of accessing PDM fund.
Maj. Aldo Alele, Operation Wealth Creation Coordinator for Kole District, who is leading the probe, confirmed the scale of the accusations.“We have so far recorded about 26 members of the group and are still recording others since many people are complaining about him,” Maj. Alele told our reporter.
He added that the weight of testimonies has convinced investigators that the allegations against Okello are credible.
He said during the same meeting, Okello allegedly attempted to secretly arrange a refund through the SACCO secretary to one of the complainants, Catherine Acen, whom he had earlier extorted.“We linked up with Acen Catherine and she told us the truth of what was happening. We made her pick her one million shillings without removing even a single coin from the secretary,” Maj. Alele revealed.
Tom Okello was arrested last Monday during a meeting organised by Kole North MP Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, where SACCO members were given a platform to present their accusations directly.
The accusations against Okello include demanding sexual favours from female members, collecting mobile money PINs, and extorting between Shs 150,000 and Shs 200,000 from beneficiaries before releasing PDM funds.
Maj. Alele emphasised that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a firm directive that anyone arrested for extorting PDM money should not be granted police bond. “We are collecting all the necessary data so that Tom Okello is produced before the court of law,” he said.
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned on Tom Okello so that any person picks a lesson from him and desists from extorting money meant for PDM.”
Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kole District, Badru Kyanjo, said the revelations have prompted authorities to intensify investigations across PDM SACCOs in the district.“We realised PDM SACCO chairpersons are extorting money from members from the meeting we had with the residents of Ayamo Parish in Okwerodot Sub-county,” Kyanjo stated.
He announced that a new chairperson will soon be appointed for Ayamo PDM SACCO, as Okello now faces serious legal battles in court.“This is necessary because we cannot deny Ayamo residents their right to receive money from the government,” Kyanjo emphasised.
The development story of Ayamo PDM SACCO…………