Community Development Officer in Soroti City charged over extorting PDM beneficiaries
KAMPALA: A Community Development Officer attached to Kengere Ward in Soroti City has been arraigned before court on charges of obtaining money by false pretence after allegedly extorting funds from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The accused, Alajo Hellen, was presented before the Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court following a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
According to investigators, Alajo, who served as the Community Development Officer for Kengere Ward in Soroti City East Division, allegedly solicited money from over 121 PDM beneficiaries under the guise of facilitating administrative processes. She reportedly told beneficiaries that the payments were necessary for group registration, renewal of group certificates, and the purchase of stationery.
Further investigations revealed that after beneficiaries received their UGX 1,000,000 allocations under the government program, the accused allegedly demanded additional payments ranging from UGX 10,000 to UGX 50,000 from each individual. She is said to have claimed that the money would be used to facilitate community-based trainers and to help beneficiaries qualify for more funding in the next financial year.
However, authorities say these claims were false and not part of any official PDM requirements.
The court remanded Alajo to custody until April 27, 2026, as investigations and prosecution proceedings continue.
The case adds to a growing number of corruption-related incidents linked to the implementation of the Parish Development Model, a government initiative aimed at boosting household incomes and transitioning communities into the money economy. Authorities have repeatedly warned public officials against exploiting beneficiaries, emphasizing that all PDM funds are meant to be accessed without illegal charges.
