By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISINDWA
Parish Development Model leaders from different Sub Counties in Namisindwa district who were accused of extorting money from beneficiaries have been forced to pay back all the money.
The event supervised by Namisindwa Resident District Commissioner, Imran Muluga took place at the two Sub Counties of Bumbo Town Council and Namboko Sub County on Wednesday 13th December, 2023.
Since the second phase of PDM cash distribution started, Namisindwa has registered uncountable allegations made by beneficiaries accusing SACCO leaders, sub county CDOs and parish chiefs from different sub counties for extorting between 30,000/= to 200,000/= from each one of them before being registered.
To make matters worse, those who failed to pay money were deleted from the list which prompted the district leadership led by Muluga to intervene.
A number of SACCO leaders, parish chiefs, sub county CDOs among other leaders have been arrested and charged to court.
Muluga had earlier conditioned to all leaders who were accused of extortion to look for that money and give it to district leadership so that it can be handed back to the beneficiaries before leaving police cells which they did.
He added that these leaders of Namboko Sub County and of Bumbo Sub County had collected Shs8 million from PDM beneficiaries but were able to pay it all back.
“They paid back the money to all beneficiaries in the two sub counties who have been alleging that the leaders asked them to pay before allowing them into the program,” Muluga said.
Andrew Wabweni, the Namisindwa district community development officer also doubling as district PDM focal person says that they are going to force all leaders who extorted money from the entire district to refund back the money to the beneficiaries.
He said that the PDM program is for free but those leaders took advantage of beneficiaries being ignorant about the program to extort money from them.
“Some sub county and SACCO leaders have been deceiving beneficiaries that its district leaders who ask them to collect the money on their behalf,” Mr. Wabeeni said.
Jackson Wakwaika, the LCV chairperson of Namisindwa district has cautioned beneficiaries against giving more money to SACCO leaders or parish leaders because it’s not there in law.
He also said that as a district, they are going to use all means to recover all monies which were extorted illegally by parish and sub county leaders.
“Some parish chiefs and SACCO leaders have started moving in public asking people to pay them money promising to consider them in 3rd phase yet government has not yet released money,” says Mr. Wakwaika.
Charles Wabomba, the LCI chairperson Namwenula cell in Bumbo town council expressed his happiness with what the district leaders are doing saying others with same habits are going to fear.
Dina Khwaka from Bumulika poultry SACCO who was given back her 30,000/= after being extorted by parish chief says that it’s the right time for the district leaders to act in such manner such that extortion cases can reduce in the district.
John Musila, Member of Parliament representing Bubulo East Constituency in Namisindwa district praised the district leaders and urged them to roll out the same work to all sub counties in the district because similar complaints are everywhere.
“The district must start arresting both the beneficiary and a leader as the best way to stop the vice in the district,” Musila said.
He said leaders have been in the media telling people that PDM program is free but people are still offering money to PDM leaders silently then complain after.
