Isingiro – Isma Ayebare, chairperson of the Rwakakoore PDM Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation, has found himself in a bit of hot water. On July 30, 2024, Ayebare was nabbed by detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
In what seems to be a never ending string of misadventures in financial management, Ayebare’s arrest is the latest episode in Uganda’s ongoing drama of SACCO mismanagement, where it feels like every day brings a new plot twist.
In Isingiro’s Grade One Magistrate Court, Ayebare stood before the judge on July 31, facing 23 counts of obtaining money by false pretence. If this were a movie, it would be a mix of “The Local Con Artist” and “The Great SACCO Scandal.” According to the charges, Ayebare, along with his yet-to-be-identified accomplices, managed to swindle Hope Twinomujuni out of sh130,000 with promises of PDM funds that never materialized.
Promises of riches under the Parish Development Model (PDM) are turning out to be as substantial as a plastic chair in the rain. Ayebare allegedly told villagers he would add them to the beneficiary list for a UGX 1 Million payout. Instead, they were left with lighter pockets and heavier hearts. The only thing heavier, perhaps, was the irony of a teacher—one who should know better—playing the role of a financial charlatan.
Courtroom Drama
When Ayebare appeared before Grade One Magistrate Ogwang Belmos Opio, it was clear that the court had a front-row seat to this spectacle. Ayebare pleaded not guilty to all charges, displaying a confidence that could only be matched by a politician promising heaven and earth in a campaign speech. The magistrate, not one to be easily swayed, advised Ayebare that while he had the right to apply for bail, he would need to have all the necessary documents in place.
Ayebare’s plea for bail, however, was as empty as promises of easy money. Without any sureties to vouch for him, he was remanded to Isingiro Government Prison until August 14, 2024, when his case will be heard.
Official Reactions
Mariam Natasha, the public relations officer for SHACU, spoke with the confidence of a referee blowing the final whistle. She explained that the complaints against Ayebare were numerous and that their actions were based on solid intelligence. The message from SHACU was clear: corruption, especially involving PDM funds, will not be tolerated.
Natasha urged the public to remain vigilant and report any similar extortion attempts. “Let those complaints come with evidence,” she said. “We will pursue those who undermine government projects aimed at improving the lives of the most disadvantaged Ugandans.”
