Police in Uganda’s Luweero District are holding two people on allegations of stealing Shs21 million meant for Kyetume Parish Development Model (PDM) Sacco in Zirobwe Sub County.
The suspects were identified by Luweero District Police Commander (DPC) as Brian Atulinda, the Chairperson Kyetume Parish Development Sacco and his Secretary Charles Aturinde, both residents of Zirobwe Sub County in Luweero District.
“The suspects will be arraigned before Court to answer charges relating to theft of government funds. We so far have two suspects relating to this particular case but investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
However, Luweero RDC, Mr Richard Bwabye said the two suspects are among several cases that the investigations teams are tracking down after some of the beneficiaries of Kyetume PDM Sacco volunteered the information.
The Parish Development Model is a Government strategy or approach for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit. This will ensure support for more Ugandans to increase their demand for goods and services.
“The suspects refunded Shs7 million upon arrest but will be arraigned in court when their respective case files are ready. We got complaints from PDM beneficiaries that some members that received Shs500,000 were asked to sign for Shs1 million by the Sacco officials. This is complete abuse of the government programme. We are also investigating cases for particular PDM Saccos that targeted people that are well placed in society, leaving out the needy community that urgently need the funds,” Mr Bwabye revealed.
Luweero District has 101 registered PDM Saccos that are meant to benefit from the PDM funds. The District Commercial Office confirmed that 50 of the Saccos have already accessed the funds and disbursed to the member beneficiaries. Each PDM Sacco is supposed to get Shs58m.
