MBARARA DISTRICT: 4 PDM COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARRESTED FOR EXTORTION

By Aggrey Twesigye
in Mbarara district—-

Four Committee members of Itaara parish PDM sacco in Rubaya sub county spent a night at Bwizibwera Central Police Station on allegations of extorting money from Parish Development Model(PDM) beneficiaries.

The suspects include;Asaph Beingana the SACCO chairperson,Adrine Kyokusiima the treasurer , Valerian Twesigye and Caleb Karuhanga both committee members.

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday evening on orders of Emmy Katera Turyabagyenyi the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mbarara.

RDC Turyabagyenyi said the suspects were detained on charges of forgery and extortion.

He said the suspect’s arrest followed several complaints raised by PDM beneficiaries from Itaara parish PDM Sacco that their leaders forged their business plans.

Turyabagyenyi further revealed that a section of SACCO beneficiaries were given less money compared to what they had requested for.

Mbarara district has a total of 46 registered PDM SACCOs that have so far received Shs 31 million out of Shs 468mln released to the district. Each parish in Uganda is expected to receive Shs 100mln each year as a revolving fund.

The PDM, which was launched in February 2022, to move 38% households still in subsistence to the money economy, proposes building infrastructure and systems that support the processing and marketing of Uganda’s agricultural products.