By KT Reporter
A farmer in Luuka district is counting losses after part of his recapitalization funds was allegedly extorted by a man posing as a State House operative. Elliot Mukasa, a resident of Buwanda village in Nawampiti sub-county, is one of the Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries whom President Yoweri Museveni visited during his economic mobilization tour across Busoga sub-region in January 2025.
Mukasa, a passion fruit farmer, told Museveni how he had invested one million shillings from PDM into passion fruit growing on a hired 40×100 plot of land. The enterprise expanded over two years, enabling him to buy goats, chickens, and establish a vegetable garden that provided both food and income for his family of four.
Impressed by his progress, Museveni gifted him six million shillings to buy a motorcycle for transporting produce to Jinja City and another 10 million shillings to purchase two acres of land for further expansion. However, Mukasa’s excitement was short-lived. He says a man identified as Joseph Musongole later confronted him, claiming he had lobbied for the President’s visit and demanded a “reward.”
Musongole reportedly introduced himself as a State House operative capable of securing more support if Mukasa gave him a kickback. At first, Mukasa ignored him, but persistent pressure from Musongole and advice from friends and some local leaders—who insisted the presidential visit had been “engineered”—pushed him into giving Musongole three million shillings. Later, Musongole allegedly kept asking for smaller handouts of 50,000–100,000 shillings.
Fearing his enterprise would collapse, Mukasa reported the matter to the Resident District Commissioner. The Assistant RDC of Luuka District, Rodgers Ntogona, confirmed the complaint, saying Musongole is not a State House employee and his actions do not represent the government.
Ntogona said security agencies are hunting Musongole, who will face charges of fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, and impersonation. He also revealed that similar complaints have been filed by other PDM beneficiaries and investigations are underway to weed out such fraud.
Mukasa says the incident has created fear and stagnated his agribusiness journey, but he remains hopeful of rebuilding with the resources still available.
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