By KT Reporter
The Zombo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Festus Ayikubua, has arrested Judith Kawun, the Alube Parish chief, and Betty Diana Monanu the chief of Omua Ward, Warr Town Council, over the mismanagement and extortion of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
Ayikubua, in an interview with our reporter on Saturday, revealed that several chiefs and Parish Development Committees (PDCs) are giving out the funds to their spouses, siblings, and close relatives, demanding exorbitant amounts from needy actual beneficiaries, depriving them of the chance to benefit from the fund. “There are two parishes that have decided to give this money to their husbands, who are not members of the villages,” he said.
He narrated that Monanu picked Shillings 4 million and gave it to her husband, bringing people who are purported to be residents of Omua Ward in Warr Town Council. Meanwhile, Kawun also smuggled her husband from Arua City and others to share shs. 3 million in PDM funds, leaving out beneficiaries in Zombo district.
By press time, the duo was behind bars at Paidha Central Police Station. The RDC says if they fail to pay the money, they will appear before the Grade One Magistrate of Paidha Court next week. However, Ayikubua is pleased with other parishes for embracing the PDM program in Zombo. “Others are doing so well, we appreciate them, and we have farmers who can testify positively about the PDM program.”
President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to defaulters of the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, suggesting they should be arrested. Speaking to journalists from Ankole at his residence in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District, last month, Museveni emphasized the need for accountability in the PDM initiative, which aims to drive socio-economic transformation.
The President also directed the Inspector General of Police to revoke police bonds for corrupt officials in Lango who were extorting money from PDM beneficiaries and ensure their prosecution. President Museveni proposed a 10-month jail term for PDM fund defaulters and embezzlers, allowing the government time to recover lost funds. He stated that the matter would be presented to the Cabinet for further review and policy formulation. In a similar development, Lira Chief Magistrate Court last week sentenced Sara Atim, the Chairperson of Ipito Aweno PDM SACCO in Lira City, to a year and eleven months’ jail term-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
