By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Manana Latif is currently cooling off at Nabweya Police Post, Mbale City after he was arrested on allegations of defrauding his Sister-in-Law of the entire Shs980,000 PDM money she had just withdrawn.
Manana was arrested on Wednesday, 23rd October, 2024 on the orders of the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Mbale Northern City Division, Mr. Yahaya Were.
Manana, a resident of Bumuyaga Ward, Bukonde, is said to have deceived Nakayenze Mwajuma, the PDM beneficiary that PDM officials had instructed him to pick the money from her on their behalf.
“Nakayenze handed over all the PDM money to Manana, who then disappeared with it and hasn’t returned until now,” Were said.
During a government monitoring exercise in Bukonde, the matter was raised, prompting Were to take immediate action.
Were ordered the police to arrest Manana, took him to Nabweya Police Post, and instructed him to refund the money he had taken.
He also directed that Manana be charged with obtaining money by false pretense.
Were warned PDM beneficiaries against being tricked into handing over their funds, emphasizing, “No one should deceive you into giving them your money for safe keeping.”
He also urged beneficiaries not to pay anyone to access PDM funds, as the initiative is government-funded and free of charge. “Government officials are already paid to implement the program,” Were noted.
Were encouraged the people of Mbale City to claim their PDM funds and use them responsibly to escape poverty, rather than spending the money on dowries, alcohol or giving loans to others.
He told the beneficiaries that they have three years to use the funds wisely before paying it back.
The Parish Development Model is a government strategy or approach for organising and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit.
