Two jailed over theft of PDM cash in Sironko

Two people have been sent to prison over theft of PDM cash meant for beneficiaries in Sironko district.

The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House said the Busita Sub-County LC3 Chairperson Mukota Patrick Benerd and a one Nambozo Hellen were remanded until next month.

Below is the full statement:

Following earlier investigations into the alleged mismanagement of PDM funds in Sironko Distict, @AntiGraft_SH and @PoliceUg have arraigned before Sironko Chief Magistrate’s Court, the Busita Sub County LC 3 Chairperson Mukota Patrick Benerd and Nambozo Hellen.

The duo were charged with unauthorized use or interception of computer services and theft. They have been remanded until 21/03/2024 and join Magomu Eddy, who had been previously apprehended.

The accused and their accomplices, who are still at large, utilized a SIM card registered under Magomu Eddy’s name to fraudulently obtain UGX5M from the PDM Wendi App accounts of five victims.
The victims reported this matter to the RDC Sironko, who forwarded it to the @PDMSecretariat, who requested the Unit to investigate the matter.

Below is an earlier statement issued following the arrest of Magomu:

.@AntiGraft_SH together with @CID1_UG in Sironko have arrested and arraigned Magomu Eddy before the Chief Magistrates Court in Sironko where he was charged with unauthorized use or interception of the Computer services and Theft.

The accused and others still at large used a SIM card registered in the names of Magomu Eddy to collect UGX5M, money from PDM Wendi App accounts of 5 victims. Wendi is a mobile application used to transfer the PDM funds to beneficiaries.

Magomu and others still at large illegally obtained the PINs of the victims without their knowledge and changed them after which they hacked their Wendi mobile accounts, only for them to see notifications on their phones showing that their PINs had changed and money had been transferred to a number registered in the names of Magomu Eddy. He has been remanded until 21/03/2024.