Four Parish Savings and Credit Co-operative Organization (SACCO) leaders are being held at Kabale central police station for allegedly extorting from SACCO members before listing them to benefit from the Development Model (PDM).
The suspects are Enock Ntegyera, Godwin Turyahikayo, Charles Monday, and Joventa Tusasibwe, residents of Kitooma and Musamba parishes in Rubaya Sub County, Kabale district.
According to authorities, the suspects were arrested on Thursday after officials were in the area to acess the progress of the program initiated by President Yoweri Museveni. But after reaching the area, a section of locals led by Annah Turyashemererwa accused the leaders of demanding shillings between 10,000 to 50,000 to include them on the list of beneficiaries.
Turyashemererwa also protested that her chance to benefit was given to another resident alleged to be staying in Kampala. According to Turyashemererwa, Turyahikayo convinced her to surrender the mobile phone if she wants the money to be processed quickly. But, after surrendering the phone, Turyashemererwa says she was shocked on realizing that the money after being wired on her mobile phone, was forwarded to another number.
Michael Kyakashari, Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner says the accused were tasked to defend themselves but their defense contained many loop holes. Kyakashari says the accused are being investigated and will be paraded before court to answer the charges accordingly.
Retired Captain Godfrey Katamba, Kabale Resident District Commissioner told our reporter on Friday that their intervention various complaints from residents accusing some SACCO leaders of corruption and mismanagement in the implementation of the program.Katamba says arrest of the suspects is an eye opener to other Sacco members who have been sabotaging the government that they are in trouble.
Katamba however says when they crossed to Kahungye Sub County on Thursday, they found many SACCO leaders already in hiding to dodge being questioned.
PDM is a government multi-sectoral strategy designed to move 39% of households from a subsistence to a money economy by elevating parishes as the focal epicenter for development, planning, and financial services. Launched to boost income and household welfare, PDM provides revolving funds to SACCOs, the first loan repayments commencing in March 2026 after a 2-year grace period.
SOURCE: Uganda Radio Network
