Rukungiri -The Office of Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner and Police have recovered 10 million shillings stolen from the Parish Development Model Programme.
The stolen money was recovered from Parish Chief and PDM Sacco chairperson of Maruma parish in Nyakishenyi sub-county in Rukungiri district.
The office of the RDC recovered the 10 million shillings from Justus Twesigomwe , the parish chief of Murama parish and Tweheyo Frank, the PDM chairperson of the same parish.
The recovered money was given back to the beneficiaries during the community dialogue that took place at Nangara church of Uganda in Nyakishenyi sub-county Rukungiri district.
Addressing the community dialogue which was organized by the office of the RDC to evaluate PDM in Rukungiri district, the Rukungiri district resident commissioner Mr Bron Kikanshemeza explained that the PDM SACCO Chairperson and parish chief of Murama parish had stolen the money from beneficiaries by extending less funds than the authorized one million shillings.
The bribes were for approving their loans.
” When I received a tip-off from locals of Murama parish, I ordered the Police to arrest the parish chief and the PDM SACCO chairperson who refunded the money to the beneficiaries,” Mr Kikanshemeza said.
The RDC added ” his office is very much ready to arrest whoever jokes with PDM money because this Money was put in place for poor local Ugandans with an intention of bringing them into the money economy . So parish chiefs and PDM Sacco chairpersons kindly follow the guidelines that were put in place by the PDM secretariat”.
Mr Kikanshemeza also appealed to beneficiaries to always report any person who asks for bribes to approve loans so that action is taken.
” This program is completely free of charge so there is no good reason as to why you should give even a single coin to any person kindly report any person who will extort or embezzle money from the PDM program such that I can arrest them. I want to tell you that the president even added some money to help the PDM beneficiaries take one million cash.
Get it from me I will deal with anyone who will attempt to fail this government program “.The RDC noted.
The RDC noted he will evaluate the performance of PDM and address challenges to ensure that it fulfils his objective to transform the people.
The Rukungiri district Commercial officer Ms Grace Tayabwa said the district is apparently acting tough on corrupt PDM SACCO Chairpersons saying this would serve as an example to others who may also want to steal the funds.
” We are done with the disbursement of the shs.100 m to all 75 parishes of Rukungiri district. So our next move will be visiting different households that received this Money and we shall be checking the usage of the received funds.” Ms Grace said.
Ms Grace noted that despite the few cases of corruption, the programme has been largely successful and extended loans to 20,647 beneficiaries to boost their enterprises.
” Todate Rukungiri district has received over 21 billion shillings and disbursed to 75 parishes spread across the district” .Ms Grace said.
The Nyakishenyi sub-county lc3 chairperson Mr Wednesday Twinomunjuni said from the engagements with beneficiaries and the PDM leaders in the sub- county, it reported that they are ghost people who have received PDM money.
” I hear that there are ghost PDM beneficiaries in my sub- county so from this point on I request the office of RDC , DISO and other security agencies to join me and we do thorough investigation into this because if not handled it may also hinder the implementation of this program in the district “. Mr Wednesday said.
He also thanked the office of the RDC for recovering the PDM funds which were embezzled by the parish chief and the parish PDM Sacco chairperson.
” We are greatly humbled as the sub- county for this good wonderful work that you have done. It has greatly relieved our people and I know your intervention in this program will make this program successful in the district “. Mr Wednesday added.
Residents on recovered money.
Mr Auther Mugabe, 56, a resident of Murama parish in Nyakishenyi sub- county Rukungiri district who had paid shs. 400,000 to the parish chief and the parish sacco chairperson thanked the office of RDC for receiving his money.
” I have nothing to give Sebo Mr RDC but I will only ask God who created you to give you what you want in life because you have saved us from these thieves. I have finally received back my money. I will use this money to finalize my coffee plantation project “. Mr Mugabe said.
Mr Alex Mwesigwa, 39 and a resident of Murama parish in Nyakishenyi sub- county Rukungiri who had paid shs. 250000 thanked the RDC for recovering his money.
” Mr RDC, I can’t thank you enough but you have done great relief to our families and it is from this background that I want to thank the president of Uganda for bringing in our district. Your coming will not leave our district the same. Thank you may good Lord bless you and your family”. Mr Mwesigwa said.
Ms Kyatuhaire Bony 45, a single mother of 3 hailed the office RDC for recovering her shs 150000 which had been paid to benefit from PDM .
” I had paid shs 150000 to the parish chief but today I have received it back . So I thank the RDC for helping us as local people “. Ms Kyatuhaire said .
About PDM
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a government strategy to move households from the subsistence economy into the money economy by strengthening the parish as the local center for planning, budgeting, and delivering services to improve incomes and welfare.
It’s Key objectives include increasing household incomes, promoting financial inclusion, strengthening agriculture, improving governance, and transforming the local economy through public and private sector interventions.
The program was launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022 with an intention of eradicating poverty through execution of development activities at the parishes.
