PDM Sacco Leaders in Agago Arrested for Alleged Extortion

Two Parish Development Model (PDM) leaders in Agago district have been arrested for alleged extortion of money from beneficiaries.   

Alphonso Odwar, the chairperson of Orina Sacco in Laperebong Sub-county, and Christopher Kumakech, his secretary, were arrested on Monday during an emergency meeting at Orina Market Square organized by Deputy Resident District Commissioner Agago Susan Akot Moro, following reports from frustrated beneficiaries of the group.   

The two leaders are accused of registering their spouses and relatives to benefit from the PDM funds and extorting between 15,000 to 20,000 shillings from each beneficiary, claiming it is for registration and other office expenses. 

The money they collected totalled 1,750,000 Shillings which is against the PDM guidelines.

 

Alphonso Odwar agreed that indeed they collected 15,000 Shillings from each of the 50 beneficiaries in the first lot of beneficiaries, and shillings 20,000 from each of the 50 beneficiaries in the second lot.  

Odwar explained that they decided to raise money from the beneficiaries to help them network with their neighbouring chairperson get information on PDM, and buy a smartphone to ease his work.  

According to Odwar, Orina Parish does not have a parish chief, something he said has complicated his work as the Sacco leader.  

He said he does not have any information on how to handle the Sacco, because that information should have been given to him by the parish chief.  

//Cue in: “An abedo ki peko…   

Cue out: …tye kawot kwede.”//    

Susan Akot Moro, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Agago acknowledges that the PDM program cannot be well implemented without a parish chief.

Akot however, stated that the duo would only be released after refunding that money to the Sacco accounts through the bank.   

A case of corruption has been registered against the duo at Patongo Central Police Station vide CRB 28/16/2024.   Several leaders in Agago have been in the spotlight for mismanagement of the PDM funds. 

In November, the parish chief and Community Development Officer of Patongo were put under investigation, after complaints arose that they deleted the name of eight beneficiaries whose money was already in the bank.   

In the same month, leaders in Patongo Town Council were accused of paying themselves 800,000 Shillings each, while their wives and all other members of their families also received between 500,000- 400,000 Shillings.   

Akot revealed that the district has recovered shillings 10 million shillings of the PDM from those who swindled or extorted them, through a similar operation in the district.    

PDM is a poverty alleviation program targeting 39 percent of households at the parish level who are still in the subsistence sector.   

In Agago district, the program was launched in June 2023, and the district has so far received shillings 11.7 billion.