Kabale Authorities Recover Misappropriated PDM Funds
KABALE: The intelligence led operation by the Office of the Kabale Resident District Commissioner has recovered a significant portion of the misappropriated 7 Million Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in Kyanamira sub-county, Kabale District.
The recent arrest of Kyanamira Sub County Chief Development Officer (CDO) Gill Andinda on charges of corruption and violating PDM guidelines has shed light on the alleged irregular distribution of PDM funds. Andinda is accused of funneling PDM money to individuals such as civil servants, retired civil servants, and affluent individuals who fall outside the targeted demographic those below the poverty line, constituting 39% of Ugandans, and living under subsistence economies.
Andinda was apprehended alongside several accomplices, including Nyakagyera Parish Chief Sonia Ahimbisibwe, Nyakagyera PDM SACCO Chairperson Macklean Nyesimire, former Buhara District Councilor Johnson Baguma (now Buhara Parish SACCO Treasurer), Buhara Sub County CDO Scora Tumwegyese, Buhara Parish SACCO Secretary Innocent Twinomugisha, Buhara PDM SACCO Chairperson Scovia Kwarikunda, and Silver Besigye, a member of the Buhara PDM SACCO committee. They were later released on Police bond and they face charges related to corruption and violation of PDM guidelines.
Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, told our reporter that , last week on Friday his office received receipts from Kyanamira sub-county Chief Ivan Mugayehwenkyi, indicating the return of 5 Million shillings to the Nyakagyera Parish SACCO Account. Nyakahuma sternly warned those involved in the misuse of PDM funds, emphasizing that they will be apprehended and compelled to reimburse the funds.
Kabale district and Kabale municipality collectively received around 7 Billion shillings. Of this amount, over 1.7 Billion has been disbursed in Kabale municipality. However, delays and lack of seriousness in the operations of respective parish chiefs have impeded the distribution of funds to eligible beneficiaries in most sub-counties.