The group includes Silver Ogwang, the Board Chairperson, Margret Akulo, the Board Secretary, Sarah Acham, the treasurer and Moses Opiding, the chairperson loans committee.
The Police in Kapelebyong is holding seven members of
Amootom Parish SACCO Board in Okungur sub county over alleged extortion of Parish
Development Model (PDM) cash.
The group includes Silver Ogwang, the Board Chairperson, Margret
Akulo, the Board Secretary, Sarah Acham, the treasurer and Moses Opiding, the chairperson
loans committee.
The others are Charles Emitu, the secretary loans, Beatrice Akiyai,
the loans treasurer and Simon Ekanya, the chairperson supervisory committee.
The police also arrested Joseph Adolu, the vice chairperson board and Ben
Opedun, a member.
The suspects reportedly extorted UGX. 1.8 million from beneficiaries
of PDM and have been detained under GEF-003/2024 of Kapelebyong CPS.
After their arrest, the suspects confessed to soliciting at
least 30,000 Shillings from beneficiaries, describing it as operational fees,
according to the Communications’ Officer of Kapelebyong, Emmanuel Opio.
Opio notes that the suspects used the solicited money for
buying phones for the board members including the chairperson, treasurer and
secretary. The other money was reportedly used for rent, purchase of savings
box and stationery works among others.
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According to the police detectives who didn’t want their names
to be mentioned because they are not authorized to speak to the media, the
suspects have recorded statements and investigations are undergoing.
The Resident District Commissioner of Kapelebyong, Tom
Otukol, says that besides arrests and prosecution of the suspects, priority
should be the refund the stolen cash to the beneficiaries.
“They must sit with the Parish development committee to
forge ways to refund the money,” Otukol, emphasized.
Edward Eninu
Freelancer