Zombo, Uganda: Security and political leaders in Zombo District have sounded the alarm over growing irregularities in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), warning that corruption is undermining the government’s flagship poverty eradication programme.
The leaders cited illegal charges, extortion, diversion of funds, ghost beneficiaries and manipulation of payment systems as some of the practices frustrating intended beneficiaries of the programme, which seeks to lift 17 million Ugandans out of subsistence living through household enterprise support.
The concerns emerged during a monitoring exercise conducted by district security authorities and political leaders to assess the implementation of the multi-billion-shilling programme.
In Dwonga Ward, Paidha Town Council, officials discovered that several beneficiaries’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) could not retrieve any information in the system, while others reflected details belonging to different individuals, raising concerns over possible fraud and data manipulation.
Zombo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua said the monitoring exercise also established that some beneficiaries received less than the government’s prescribed Shs1 million, despite records indicating that the full amount had been disbursed.
Ayikobua said investigations revealed cases where beneficiaries were allegedly forced to pay illegal fees after being threatened that their names would be removed from the beneficiary register if they failed to comply.
“Some intended beneficiaries have become frustrated by the manipulation and have withdrawn from the programme altogether,” Ayikobua said.
He warned that such practices defeat the objectives of the Parish Development Model, which was established to improve household incomes through direct financial support to organised community groups.
Zombo District Woman Member of Parliament Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny called on all stakeholders involved in implementing the programme to reject corruption and expose any irregularities affecting beneficiaries.
She urged local leaders, technical officers and community members to work together to protect public resources intended for poverty alleviation.
The district’s NRM Registrar, Prisca Unegiu, linked some of the irregularities to the outcome of the recently concluded LC1 elections.
She said some grassroots leaders had personalised the management of PDM funds, resulting in public dissatisfaction that was reflected in the election results.
According to Unegiu, 115 independent candidates won LC1 elections in Zombo District, compared to 367 NRM flag bearers, with many voters reportedly rejecting leaders accused of mishandling government programmes.
RDC Ayikobua also revealed several cases already under investigation.
In one case, a parish chief was arrested after investigations allegedly found that she extorted money from beneficiaries for church construction. He said the official reportedly collaborated with a Wendi mobile money agent, who deducted between Shs200,000 and Shs300,000 from each beneficiary before releasing the remaining balance.
In another incident in Kango Sub-county, a parish chief allegedly diverted Shs4 million in PDM funds to her husband, a resident of Arua City, before fraudulently withdrawing Shs3 million for herself using the identities of different beneficiaries.
Authorities also arrested a Wendi agent accused of diverting Shs9 million belonging to beneficiaries after allegedly convincing them to disclose their secret PIN numbers before using the money to repay a personal bank loan.
District leaders said investigations into the cases are ongoing, with more suspects expected to be arrested.
The concerns in Zombo mirror a growing national trend.
According to the Uganda Police Force’s crime statistics, 389 criminal cases linked to the Parish Development Model have been registered across the country so far. The cases include more than 198 counts of direct theft, alongside numerous incidents involving fraud, extortion and abuse of office.
District leaders said they are implementing a recent presidential directive ordering the arrest and prosecution of all individuals found stealing or misappropriating PDM funds.
Under the directive, those convicted are expected to refund the stolen money before serving sentences for corruption-related offences.
The Parish Development Model, launched in 2022, is the Government’s flagship programme for transforming households from subsistence to the money economy through direct financing of organised parish-based enterprises.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is Uganda’s flagship socio-economic transformation strategy, implemented through the Ministry of Local Government and other government agencies. Each eligible beneficiary receives Shs1 million as seed capital to invest in income-generating enterprises. Government has repeatedly warned against extortion, illegal deductions and diversion of funds, directing security agencies to prosecute all officials and agents implicated in corrupt practices.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
