Bukomansimbi, Uganda: Coordinators from the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) for Greater Masaka yesterday uncovered a web of corruption and mismanagement in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in Kibinge Subcounty, Bukomansimbi District.
The regional ONC team, led by Ms. Nakeeya Hellen (Greater Masaka Coordinator), alongside Ms. Namisango Harriet (Kalangala), Mr. Kato Paul Nsaso (Bukomansimbi), and Mr. Abaho Badru (Media Coordinator), conducted a monitoring visit in response to mounting complaints from PDM beneficiaries and residents.
According to Ms Nakeeya, parish chiefs and intermediaries allegedly solicited bribes from vulnerable residents in exchange for access to PDM funds. “We received reports that some Parish Chiefs were demanding bribes and working with brokers. In some cases, even those who paid never received the funds,” she said.
Among the key allegations documented by the ONC team include; Parish Chiefs demanding illegal payments to process or release PDM funds, collusion between Parish Chiefs and middlemen to extort residents, dormant Parish Development Committees allowing political figures to handpick beneficiaries, SACCO Boards failing in their oversight and management responsibilities and PDM funds being diverted to non-residents and well-off individuals who bribed officials to be enlisted as beneficiaries.
Kalangala Coordinator, Ms. Namisango, warned all stakeholders to adhere to the PDM guidelines, which require proper selection of beneficiaries based on enterprise groupings, not favoritism or financial influence. “Let enterprises determine their beneficiaries. Bribes and backdoor lists only sabotage the program’s intent,” she stated.
Mr. Kato Paul Nsaso condemned the abuse of the program’s purpose, reminding officials and residents that PDM is meant to uplift Uganda’s poorest citizens. “This money is for the 39% of Ugandans who live below the poverty line—not the already wealthy. No one should be asked to pay any fee to access this government support,” he stressed.
In a firm directive, Ms. Nakeeya asked the Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to open a General Enquiry File (GEF) targeting all individuals implicated in the bribery scheme.
“We shall not tolerate extortion and corruption in pro-people programs like PDM, Emyooga, and YLP. These initiatives were created by President Museveni to improve the livelihoods of ordinary Ugandans,” she emphasized.
Nakeeya further urged Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) to impose strict disciplinary action, not mere transfers, on Parish Chiefs found guilty of sabotaging the implementation of national programs.
Residents in Kibinge Subcounty welcomed the investigation and intervention, describing the ONC team’s visit as timely. They appealed to President Museveni to consider increasing PDM allocations from Shs 100 million, particularly for densely populated urban parishes, to broaden the program’s impact.
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