Lira City Assistant RCC, Boney Okello Alele, has cautioned leaders of the PDM Groups about engaging in the extortion of money from innocent group members (Wanahinci) who are beneficiaries of Group SACCOs under the PDM program.
Alele echoed this warning while addressing several group members under Kirombe, Lira City West Division, who petitioned the office of the RCC Lira City over intimidation by SACCO Chairman Mr. Oceng Emanuel and Treasurer Obua James. They allegedly demanded 30,000 UGX from each of the group members of the six groups under the SACCO. This prompted ARCC Bonny Okello Alele to summon the leadership of the SACCO under the directives of Lira RCC, Mr. Emmy Lawrence Egole.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at around 10:00 AM, all the six group leaders, together with SACCO executives, were held in a meeting chaired by Assistant RCC Bonny Okello Alele. During the meeting, the SACCO chairman admitted to sending communications regarding the collection of 30,000 UGX per person but pleaded for forgiveness since no money had been received yet. A member of the Can Ocorowa group accused the SACCO leadership of forcefully replacing names of members in their group without consent.
“No one, no leader of the group or SACCO, not even the technical staff, must get a coin over PDM,” warned Okello Alele, the ARCC of Lira City. He added that this program is an opportunity for the poor to transform their lives economically, initiated by H.E. Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, the president of the Republic of Uganda. “We will not spare anybody over extortion and illegal replacement of names of beneficiaries.”
The jubilant group leaders appreciated the office of the RCC for the timely intervention and action in the matter. “We are saved from these measures,” Susan, one of the group members, expressed appreciation.
“The NRM strategy for a money economy is to encourage Ugandans in the economic transformation agenda, of which PDM is core in this drive. I challenge you leaders and your members to be empowered and never to be intimidated by people who are after the extortion of the innocent poor. The president is determined in this economic transformation, and we are committed to enforcing his principles and strategies,” said ARCC Alele.
Great work Bonny Ferdinand please keep it up please.