BY PEACE AGUTI
Three people including a Parish Chief, PDM SACCO Chairperson and Secretary have been arrested in Kumi District over allegations of extorting money from local residents under the pretext of facilitating their inclusion in the Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
The arrests followed a general meeting at the Mukongoro Sub county Local Government Headquarters, where local authorities discussed concerns surrounding fraudulent practices linked to the PDM process.
The three suspects, identified as Isudo Julius, Ojangole Joseph, and Amuge Sarah of Okudumo Parish, were detained after a series of complaints from community members who claimed they were coerced into paying bribes to have their names added to the list of PDM beneficiaries.
James Kyomya, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kumi, confirmed the arrests and called on the suspects to provide clear explanations for the money they had been collecting from the public.
Kyomya emphasized that the community was being exploited by these individuals and demanded that the funds be refunded to the affected residents.
“I have all the communication records. People are reporting that these individuals have been collecting money from them, ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 shillings, in exchange for ensuring their inclusion in the PDM list. This is illegal and must be addressed,” Kyomya said.
Kyomya also referred to a specific incident that occurred last Friday, where an elderly woman was allegedly forced to sell sorghum to pay a bribe to the parish chief, the PDM chairperson, and other local officials.
The woman sought to be included in the PDM list, but despite paying the bribe, she was not added to the list.
The PDM chairperson reportedly refunded part of the money, but Kyomya stressed that such practices should not be tolerated.
“This kind of behavior is unacceptable. The PDM process is meant to be transparent and accessible to all, without any form of corruption. The President has made it clear that all PDM processes are free of charge, and anyone who seeks to exploit the system for personal gain will face serious consequences,” Kyomya warned.
The Deputy RDC further explained that the community had raised concerns about widespread corruption in the PDM process, with some individuals allegedly paying significant sums to secure their place on the beneficiaries’ list.
In some cases, amounts ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 shillings were reportedly demanded from residents, while others had to pay between 40,000 to 100,000 shillings to be included.
“The President deployed us to ensure that the people are protected from exploitation. The PDM process should be free of charge, and we will not tolerate any deviation from this principle,” Kyomya added.
Ojangole Joseph, one of the arrested suspects and the secretary of Okudumo Parish, admitted that money had been collected from residents but claimed that the funds were shared among various local leaders, including the LCI and LCII of Okudumo.
He stated that he was willing to refund the money to those who were wronged by the extortion.
“I deeply regret the situation. The money was shared among several leaders, but I am committed to refunding those who were affected by these actions,” Ojangole said.
Local authorities have pledged to continue their investigation into the matter and assured the public that any individuals found guilty of exploiting the PDM program would face severe legal consequences.
They are also encouraging residents to report any further incidents of corruption within the program.
Kyomya concluded with a firm message: “We will continue mobilizing and taking action against anyone who seeks to undermine the government’s efforts to help the people. As long as we are here, we will ensure that the PDM process remains fair and free from corruption.”
About Author
