Okidi Patrick, Pakwach – On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, there was a lot of excitement in Faluonga Parish, Alwii Sub-County in Pakwach District as the PDM beneficiaries received their money that was extorted by the Sacco leaders. During the latest disbursement of the PDM funds, the Sacco leaders extorted 37,000 from each of the 50 PDM beneficiaries, claiming this money would be used for data, transport to and from the sub-county, among other things.
According to the PDM guidelines, a beneficiary is mandated to contribute only 5,000. This extortion angered the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), who ordered the Sacco leaders to return the 1.6 million. It was handed over to the jubilant beneficiaries, meaning each beneficiary would receive 32,000.
According to RDC Eseru, he said he will not tolerate any deviations from the guidelines and that whoever extorted money from PDM beneficiaries over and above the stipulated 5,000 must immediately refund that money back to the beneficiaries.
Already, Sacco leaders of Pokwero East Parish have refunded 950,000, and the Boro Parish Sacco leaders refunded 450,000 sometime last year. The Chairman LC3 for Alwii Sub-County, Mr. Odia Robert, thanked the office of the RDC for acting swiftly on the matter and said this will now serve as an example to the rest of the parishes. In Faluonga Parish, so far, 150 million has been disbursed, benefiting 150 PDM beneficiaries.
