Alebtong, Uganda – In a shocking revelation, public outcry during a Parish Development Model (PDM) Baraza in Awori Parish, Abako Subcounty, has exposed rampant extortion within the PDM program.
The Baraza, organized by the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Alebtong, was attended by over 300 participants, including public officials, local leaders, and members of the community.
The meeting, held on December 10, 2024, at Adagleb Village, aimed to evaluate the progress of the PDM initiative, a flagship government program designed to uplift Ugandans from subsistence to commercial farming.
However, the session turned into an exposé of alleged corruption and exploitation by enterprise and SACCO leaders.
In a rare display of courage, 30 women testified publicly about being coerced to pay between 50,000 UGX and 200,000 UGX as a “password” to access PDM funds.
The women accused some SACCO leaders of leveraging their authority to exploit vulnerable beneficiaries.
Additionally, 10 men accused the same leaders of deceitfully collecting money from them under the pretense of facilitating access to the funds.
These testimonies painted a grim picture of how certain individuals have betrayed the program’s mission by turning it into a money-making scheme.
In response to the allegations, Deputy RDC Mathias Lutwama, who presided over the Baraza, reiterated the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption in PDM.
“President Museveni has issued clear directives against any form of monetary extortion in the implementation of PDM,” he stated.
As a result, seven suspects accused of masterminding the extortion schemes were immediately arrested.
They are currently in police custody and will be prosecuted in court.
The swift action underscores the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and exploitation within its programs.
The PDM program, launched to address rural poverty, has faced implementation challenges, including allegations of mismanagement and exploitation.
This incident highlights the need for stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure that funds reach intended beneficiaries without interference.
Local leaders have called for stricter vetting processes for SACCO executives and enterprise leaders, emphasizing the importance of integrity in implementing government programs.
Deputy RDC Lutwama issued a stern warning to all individuals involved in similar practices.
“The government will not tolerate those sabotaging PDM by exploiting the vulnerable. We will continue to monitor the program and take necessary action against culprits,” he affirmed.
The Alebtong community welcomed the arrests as a step toward restoring confidence in the PDM initiative.
Participants at the Baraza expressed hope that the government would take further measures to protect citizens from exploitation and ensure the program fulfilled its mission of transforming livelihoods.
This incident serves as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to uphold transparency and accountability in implementing government programs, reaffirming the government’s resolve to combat corruption at all levels.
