Nine arrested for extorting money from Namayingo PDM groups

NAMAYINGO, UGANDA: Nine suspects accused of extorting an unspecified amount of money from different groups under the Parish Development Model-PDM between April and May 2022, are in custody at Namayingo central police station.

It is alleged that the suspects, whose identities have been withheld, were soliciting money from unsuspecting victims with promises of helping them to access PDM funds without going through the tight screening processes by the parish chiefs.

Their arrest followed endless complaints from their victims to Namayingo Resident District Commissioner, Suleiman Barasa. Azalia Musulo, one of the victims told our reportern that after forming an association in Buyinjja parish, two men approached them to pay Shillings 500,000 Shillings before including their association in the group of beneficiaries.

“We went through all the required registration protocols. However, two men who claimed to have ties with PDM officials attached to the RDC’s office approached us requesting money prompting us to consult responsible authorities who unanimously denied knowledge about them,” he said.

Barasa says that such elements are frustrating efforts to effectively sensitize and mobilize the general public to embrace PDM programs aimed at bettering their livelihoods. He says that they are liaising with all responsible security personnel and the district leadership to eliminate all forms of fraud aimed at frustrating the smooth implementation of the PDM.

The Busoga East police spokesperson, Diana Nandawula says that they have opened a general inquiry file where they register complaints from the affected people to facilitate the prosecution of the suspects.