Kole, Uganda: The Territorial Police in Kole District have arrested two suspects linked to the alleged theft of UGX 50 million meant for beneficiaries under the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.
The suspects, identified as Olila Martine and Omodi Denis, were apprehended in Okwor Village, Ayer Sub-County, after a complaint was filed by Maj. Aldo Alele Onyango, the Operational Wealth Creation Officer for Kole District.
According to police’s preliminary findings, the suspects and others still at large reportedly withdrew the funds from a designated PDM account on June 2, 2025, but failed to disburse the money to intended recipients.
While several beneficiaries received SMS alerts notifying them of payment, none actually received any funds.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Region Police spokesperson, confirmed that a General Enquiry File (GEF) has been opened at Kole Central Police Station and statements have been recorded from the affected community members.
“During the arrest operation, UGX 21 million was recovered from the suspect, Olila Martine. Investigations suggest the suspects manipulated the beneficiary list by inserting new names, replacing the original recipients,” Okema said.
He added that efforts to track down the other accomplices are ongoing, and the case file is being prepared for submission to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) for legal advice and prosecution.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a flagship wealth creation initiative by the government aimed at moving 39% of Ugandans stuck in the subsistence economy into the money economy through structured, parish-based financial inclusion.
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