By URN
Three officials attached to Kikuube district local government are in custody at Kikuube central police station for extorting money from people seeking to benefit from the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The officials are Godfrey Katungi, the Parish Chief for Igwanjura in Kabwoya sub-county, Lawrence Baguma, the Parish chief for Bubogo in Kabwoya sub-county, and Charles Kusemererwa, the community facilitator under Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project-DR DIP in Kabwoya sub-county.
They were arrested on the orders of the Deputy Inspector of government-IG Dr. Patricia Achan during a public dialogue organized by the office of the Inspector General of Government-IGG at Kabwoya sub-county headquarters on Friday.
According to the residents, the officials extorted between 100,0000 and 250,000 shillings from each person seeking to benefit from the parish Development Model-PDM.
This angered Achan who immediately ordered detectives to arrest and detain the officials.
According to Achan, the action exhibited by the officials has hampered the implementation and progress of the PDM in the district and also tainted the government’s image.
Dr. Achan wondered why money should be extorted from PDM beneficiaries yet the government fully facilitated the implementers.
Recently, several officials in Kagadi, Kiryandongo, Masindi, and Hoima have been arrested for extorting money from PDM beneficiaries.
Dr.Patricia Achan and other officials from the office of the IGG are in Kikuube to monitor the implementation and progress of the various government projects being undertaken in the district including the Parish Development model-PDM and Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project-DR DIP among others.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched the Parish Development Model in Kibuku District to enhance job creation and address unemployment through various pillars such as financial inclusion, infrastructure development, and agricultural value chain enhancement.
The PDM program is designed to provide low-cost loans to beneficiaries for sustainable income-generating investments within their communities.
