The Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner in charge of Bukonzo County, Lt (rtd) Maate Magwara, has ordered Sacco leaders involved in the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Muhindi Parish, Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, to refund money allegedly extorted from beneficiaries of the program.
It is reported that beneficiaries paid between 40,000 and 70,000 shillings each as “facilitation” fees to Parish Chief John Idembe and other executive members, purportedly to facilitate the process of accessing PDM funds. Access to PDM funds is supposed to be free for all qualifying groups and individuals.
A total of approximately 7 million shillings is alleged to have been collected from various Sacco members within the parish. During a meeting with the beneficiaries, Magwara instructed the accused, led by the Parish Chief, to refund the money.They reportedly produced over 1.7 million shillings as part of the refund.
Magwara further directed them to locate and return the remaining money promptly, in his presence.Sunday Peter Kakule, the Nyakiyumbu Sub-county LCIII Chairperson, condemned the extortion, noting that it undermines the purpose of the PDM government program.
Last month, the Kasese district LCV noted that they were investigating similar cases of extortion involving individuals responsible for distributing PDM funds in Kayanja Parish, Nyakiyumbu Sub-county. URN