The Kabale District Deputy RDC, Andrew Ronald Bakaki, along with the police, have arrested two members of the Nyombe Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO in Kahungye sub county, Ndorwa West in connection with extortion from PDM beneficiaries.
The suspects, Kobusigye Catherine, the treasurer, and Bruce Ahimbisibwe, the secretary, were taken into custody after admitting to accepting bribes from beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, two other suspects, Nyombe Parish chief Wiklif and Nyombe PDM SACCO chairperson Mr. Mugabe Elius, are currently on the run and are being pursued by authorities.
According to Kabale District Police Commander, SP Bakaleke Joseph, the arrests followed a community engagement at Nyombe Church of Uganda, where over 70 beneficiaries testified to having paid bribes ranging from UGX 5,300 to UGX 100,000 to be included on the PDM list.
Cue in… Bakaleke
Deputy RDC for Kabale Bakaki stated that an interaction meeting with PDM beneficiaries revealed a conspiracy between the Parish chief and the Nyombe PDM SACCO chairperson to extort money from beneficiaries. He emphasized that PDM is a free program and that those involved in extortion must return the funds to the rightful owners.
Cue in… Bakaki on extortion
Furthermore, Bakaki discovered that the Parish chief had embezzled Nyombe PDC facilitation funds, leaving PDC members with little to no payment for their work. The affected PDC members include: Katurebe Cilus (LC2 Nyombe Parish) – UGX 80,000, Twinomujuni David – UGX 0 (received nothing), Kwesiga Erasmus – UGX 20,000, Ayebare Barhum – UGX 80,000, Orishaba Anna – UGX 20,000 and Tumuhekyi Olivia – UGX 20,000
Cue in… Bakaki on PDC money
Cue in… PDC voxpops RR
The community’s outrage is palpable as beneficiaries and PDC members call for justice and a thorough investigation into the extortion and embezzlement practices that have marred the PDM initiative in Nyombe Parish.
ENDS//////
