By KT Reporter
Two Parish Development Model (PDM) officials are in custody at Kiryandongo Central Police Station over alleged extortion.
The suspects have been identified as Ibrahim Kisembo, the Parish Chief of Nyamaswa, and Stanly Odeke, the SACCO Chairperson for Tuyungane Group in Mpumwe Parish, Kigumba Sub County.
They were arrested on the orders of Samuel Mbabazi, the Kiryandongo Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC), after several complaints were lodged against them. According to Mbabazi, the suspects were extorting between UGX 100,000 and 200,000 from residents seeking to benefit from the PDM program. He said Kisembo had already collected about UGX 7 million from beneficiaries in Nyamaswa Parish, while Odeke had received UGX 800,000 from applicants in Mpumwe Parish at the time of their arrest.
The matter came to light after a whistleblower tipped off the RDC’s office, prompting investigations that led to the duo’s arrest. They were later taken to Kiryandongo Police Station where they are being held on charges of extortion and corruption.
This is not the first time PDM implementers in the Bunyoro sub-region have been implicated in extortion. In July 2024, three town agents from Kigumba Town Council in Kiryandongo District were arrested for allegedly extorting UGX 100,000–200,000 from beneficiaries. They were identified as Timothy Mwesigwa from Ward A, John Ngambisha from Ward B, and Florence Korugendo from Ward C.
In May 2024, two officials in Masindi District were also arrested on similar charges. They were John Ayesiga, Chairperson of Tukole Hamu PDM Group in Muramura Village, and Edward Irumba, the LC1 Chairperson of Muramura Village. The duo allegedly extorted UGX 200,000 from each PDM beneficiary.
Mbabazi has since warned that his office will continue cracking down on PDM officials who frustrate the government’s efforts to fight poverty through extortion and corruption.
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