A team from the PDM Secretariat arrested a Katakwi Town Council technical team today, October 3, 2024, for cash extortion from communities involving over UGX 40 million.
Hon. Jovrin Kalisa, the Deputy National Coordinator for PDM Uganda, stated that the arrests followed numerous complaints from the community in Katakwi. Residents reported that many parish chiefs had favored their relatives in the distribution of PDM benefits, leaving other deserving individuals excluded.
Hon. Kalisa urged the public to report cases of misconduct by civil servants to the relevant authorities so that appropriate action can be taken.
Dr. Sunday Nickson, a national economist with the PDM Secretariat, mentioned that the directive came in response to concerns raised by the State Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang. He reported that some technical staff at the parish level were colluding with chairpersons of PDM SACCOS to divert funds meant for eligible beneficiaries.
With the recently introduced eighth pillar of PDM, which emphasizes accountability, the team instructed all security personnel in Katakwi to immediately attend a community meeting, which led to the arrest of the parish chief and his associates.
Those arrested include Southern Ward parish chief Anthony Inangolet, treasurer Akeemo Doreen Susan, and secretary Ikabat Emmanuel. Reports indicate that UGX 4 million was misappropriated and sent to four family members: Proscovia Akello, James Patrick Akello, Anna Christine Akol, and Marita Akello. These individuals did not attend the meeting for unknown reasons.
“The chairperson of PDM, Adyebo Susan, took my national identity card and a SIM card and made her close associates benefit instead of me,” victim Christine Akiteng told the PDM team.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative was launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on February 26, 2022, in Kibuku District. The primary aim of the PDM is to increase household incomes and improve the quality of life for Ugandans, focusing on transforming households from subsistence to a money economy within five years.
Who qualifies for PDM in Uganda?
For an existing group to be eligible under the PDM, it must meet the following criteria: a) The group must have a commercial orientation (e.g., formed for the purpose of carrying out commercial activities at any point in the recommended value chain) and be actively engaged in income-generating activities.
Other pillars of the PDM include production, storage, processing and marketing, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, and social services.
