Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma has ordered the arrest of several local government officials and SACCO leaders in connection with alleged corruption and violation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) guidelines.
In the latest incident on Tuesday evening, September 26, 2023, RDC Nyakahuma ordered the arrest of Sylvia Ekyasimire, the Parish Chief of Buranga Parish in Kamuganguzi Sub County, Ndorwa West County, Kabale District. Ekyasimire is accused of disbursing Ugx One Million from the revolving fund designated for the PDM to an individual who is not a resident of Nyarubira village within Buranga Parish, Kamuganguzi sub-county of Kabale district.
According to RDC Nyakahuma, Ekyasimire allegedly transferred the funds to a bank account bearing the number 3202720841 at Centenary Bank, registered in the name of Sarah Akamukama. It later emerged that Sarah Akamukama does not hold residency in any of the villages within Kamuganguzi sub-county.
RDC Nyakahuma also ordered Patrick Wednesday, the area LC1 Chairman, to report to the police and provide a statement regarding the misuse of an official stamp. Wednesday is alleged to have unlawfully employed the stamp to authenticate the minutes of the Nyarubira Goat Keeping Group on 04/07/2023, without subjecting it to scrutiny and verification by the group members where Akamukama allegedly belongs.
In a recent development on Friday, September 22, 2023, RDC Nyakahuma also ordered the apprehension of two Community Development Officers (CDOs) and six Parish Development Model SACCO leaders on grounds of alleged corruption and violations of PDM guidelines.
The list of suspects includes Sonia Ahimbisibwe, the Nyakagyera Parish Chief, Gill Andinda, the CDO of Kyanamira Sub County, Macklean Nyesimire, Chairperson of Nyakagyera PDM SACCO, Johnson Baguma, former Buhara District Councilor and Treasurer of Buhara Parish SACCO, Scora Tumwegyese, the CDO of Buhara Sub County, Innocent Twinomugisha, Secretary of Buhara Parish SACCO, Scovia Kwarikunda, Chairperson of Buhara PDM SACCO, and Silver Besigye, a committee member of Buhara PDM SACCO.
However, they were later released on Police bond.
These arrests mark significant actions taken by the authorities to address alleged corruption and misconduct within the PDM framework in Kabale District, underscoring their commitment to upholding accountability and transparency in local development initiatives.