Four people have been arrested in Kisoro district for allegedly extorting money from residents seeking to benefit from the Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
The arrests occurred on Thursday during community meetings (barazas) in Muramba sub-county and Bunagana town council, chaired by Resident District Commissioner Hajja Badru Sebyala, her deputy Robert Tukamuhebwa, and Kisoro District Internal Security Officer Sam Mwesigwa.
Residents in Muramba accused Gisozi Parish Chief Pauline Kakuze, Sooko PDM Sacco Chairperson Emmanuel Ndazigaruye, and Sooko Parish Chief John Bosco Nteziyaremye of charging between 100,000 and 150,000 shillings per person. The three were arrested and taken to Muramba police station for questioning. In Bunagana, Jennifer Nyiramugisha, a ward agent, was also arrested on similar charges.
Sebyala said they have received numerous complaints about residents not benefiting fully from the program.
Last week, State Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties) Henry Ariganyira Musasizi admitted that the government is struggling to track the PDM’s impact at the grassroots level. Citing a case study in Bushenyi district, Musasizi revealed that beneficiaries misused the funds. He also mentioned irregularities in Hamuhambo town council, Rubanda district, where funds were diverted to residents of Kabale district. He blamed such cases of extortion by parish chiefs for hindering the program’s progress.
Launched by President Yoweri Museveni in February 2022, the PDM aims to improve service delivery and reduce poverty at the grassroots level. Each member of a formed group receives 1 million shillings as startup capital.
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