Four people have been arrested for alleged extortion related to the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in Kisoro district. They were arrested on Thursday during the barazas in Muramba sub-county and Bunagana town council.
The barazas were chaired by the Resident District Commissioner, Hajja Badru Sebyala, his Deputy, Robert Tukamuhebwa, and Kisoro District Internal Security Officer Sam Mwesigwa.
At Muramba sub-county headquarters, residents accused the Gisozi Parish Chief, Pauline Kakuze, Emmanuel Ndazigaruye Chairperson of Sooko PDM Sacco, and John Bosco Nteziyaremye, the Sooko Parish Chief of charging them between 100,000-150,000 Shillings per person.
They were arrested and taken to Muramba police post for questioning. In Bunagana. Jennifer Nyiramugisha, Bunagana ward agent was also arrested.
Ssebyala says that they have received several complaints from residents that they are not effectively benefiting from the program.
Last week, Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties) admitted that the government is struggling to trace the impact of the PDM program at the grassroots level across the country.
Citing Bushenyi district, Musasizi said that the recent case study has revealed that beneficiaries used the money for non-benefiting things. He also said that the same mess was registered in Hamuhambo town council, Rubanda district where the money was given to residents of Kabale district. He added that cases of extortion by Parish chiefs are stagnating the progress of the program.
Launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in February 2022, the government-led initiative is aimed at improving service delivery and alleviating poverty at the grassroots level. Each person in a formed group is given 1 million shillings as capital to start income-generating projects.
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