LIRA, Uganda – Over 10 journalists struggled to take photos of Atim Sarah, the PDM extortion suspect, as she covered her face in fear of the charges levied against her.
Lira Grade 1 Magistrate Court in Lira City has remanded the embattled 45-year-old Sarah Atim, the Chairperson of Ipito Aweno PDM SACCO, to Lira Central Prison until December 23, 2024, on allegations of embezzling UGX 1 million from a 26-year-old senior journalist, Akullu Charity. The presiding judge, Her Worship Alison Nasasira, after hearing the case, referred Atim to the relevant sections of the law for the alleged theft of the money from Akullu Charity, which violates Articles 230 and 244 of the Ugandan Constitution.
According to the prosecution, Atim exploited Akullu Charity’s hospitalization to fraudulently withdraw UGX 1 million from her account by manipulating her into revealing her mobile money SIM card details. This prompted Akullu to report the theft to the police on December 10, 2024.
Atim denied the accusations during the court hearing, claiming she had no involvement in the alleged theft. Her refusal to acknowledge the charges led to her immediate remand, as the court deemed her actions to be in violation of the law.
This latest arrest adds to a troubling pattern of behavior for Atim, who has faced legal troubles earlier this year. Recently, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested Atim for the same offense of extortion, accusing her of obtaining money by false pretenses from chairpersons of various PDM groups, under the false claim that she was in charge of registering these groups for the PDM program.
Atim will remain in remand until December 23, 2024, when her case file will be mentioned in court.
Earlier, a source in the police, who wished to remain anonymous, said Atim has also been arrested for several other offenses, including accusations of inciting locals against a police patrol. A notable incident occurred last week when she clashed with a police patrol that linked her to a criminal group terrorizing people within Lira City West Division.
The secretary of Ipito Aweno PDM SACCO, Enyango Walter, a 29-year-old man, stated during a press briefing on December 2, 2024, that it was resolved that Charity and four others should be paid their PDM money. He added that he had met Atim withdrawing the money at Post Bank, and the money belonged to Akullu Charity. He urged the PDM secretariat to have Atim transferred and remanded as an example, potentially to Luzira Maximum Prison, given her recent arrest by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for the same issue of extorting PDM funds.
Another group member (name withheld) called for an investigation of the City Commercial Officer by Naguru Police Headquarters, as the officer is allegedly still involved in activities despite being interdicted. Another PDM beneficiary called for an investigation into the PDM desk by the Office of the President, citing suspicions of conspiracy to commit extortion by some high-ranking officials in the city, though no names were provided.
Another group member, interviewed by the media, urged the PDM secretariat to ensure Atim is kept behind bars and transferred from Lira Central Prison to Luzira without the possibility of bail, claiming that she has powerful connections in Lira City who cover up the extortion activities she is involved in.
“President Museveni should send an independent team to investigate Atim Sarah, as her continuous extortion of PDM funds has become a serious issue here in Lira City West, and she seems to have powerful supporters in the Commercial Office,” fumed a PDM beneficiary.
“I pray that justice prevails, and that such criminals are brought to book to serve as an example to others who extort PDM money,” said the complainant, Charity Akullu.
The case has been registered under General Inquiry File Number GEF/045/10/12/2024.
