While in Kasese District on 4th December 2025 during the Presidential campaign tour, three wananchi, including a female Councillor, Ms. Masika Joy of Kamayiba Ward, Central Division, came forward from the crowd and reported to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cases of abuse of the PDM programme within Kasese Municipality.

Follow-up investigations established that nine enterprise groups had been defrauded. As a result, two accused persons, Biira Teopista and Biira Christine, were arrested and charged with obtaining money by false pretence under Kasese CRB 872/2025.

They first appeared before the Grade 1 Magistrate’s Court on 6th January 2026 and were remanded until 10th February 2026. They are currently released on Court bail.

In a related matter under Kasese CRB 878/2025, accused persons Wameyo Paul and Mugisha John also appeared before the Grade 1 Magistrate’s Court on 6th January 2026. Investigations into additional related case files are ongoing.

Similarly, on 10th December 2025 in Kiryandongo District, concerns were raised by wananchi regarding mismanagement and extortion linked to the PDM programme. In a follow-up engagement held on 12th December 2025 between SSP Byaruhanga, the Territorial Police, and complainants from Panyadoli Sub-county, it was established that 14 cases were already under active investigation and prosecution.

Of these, two cases have since been concluded, leading to the conviction of six accused persons, namely Akello Esther, Abalo Margaret, Bugumirwa Patrick, Aluku Joel, Amusolo Eunice, and Mukwana Jacob. Hearing of the remaining cases is progressing before the courts of law.

In Entebbe, on 5th January 2026 during the Presidential campaign programme, one Nakasoma Tereza, also known as Nabakyala of Namulanda, reported that 14 beneficiaries in her enterprise group had been extorted during registration by the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of Namulanda PDM SACCO. Investigations were immediately undertaken, leading to the arrest of Kalega Joseph and Kibowa Henry on 7th January 2026.

They were subsequently charged with 15 counts of obtaining money by false pretence under Kajjansi CRB 22/2026. The accused persons appeared before the Kajjansi Grade 1 Magistrate’s Court on 11th February 2026 and were remanded. The matter is scheduled to return to court for further hearing on 20th April 2026.

As part of the ongoing government efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Parish Development Model, arrests and court proceedings arising from these investigations are being publicized to expose individuals who exploit wananchi, encourage whistleblowers to come forward with credible information, and deter those who may intend to misuse funds meant for the transformation of households.

The government reiterates that access to PDM support is free of charge, and no official at any level is authorized to solicit money from citizens in exchange for registration or participation in the programme.

Members of the public are encouraged to continue reporting such cases to the relevant authorities.

The concerned investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial authorities are urged to expeditiously handle these cases so that the ends of justice can be met, confidence among wananchi is strengthened, and the Parish Development Model continues to serve its intended purpose of transforming households from subsistence to participation in the money economy.

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Kampala. Mutesasira Evans Kaganizo, Chairperson of the Uganda Liberal Teachers’ Union Members SACCO, and businessman Esiingwa Hassan Maganda were Thursday arraigned at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court today on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and conspiracy to defraud UGX 1.35 billion.

The case, prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions follows a joint investigation by State House Anti-Corruption Court and the Criminal Investigations Directorate.

The defendants are accused of misappropriating UGX 3.6 billion from a UGX 20 billion presidential grant intended to bolster teachers’ welfare through SACCOs. Prosecutors allege that upon receiving funds, Kaganizo and SACCO Secretary Twinomujuni Nathan Kakson (still at large) diverted money to purchase land in Kiira Municipality (UGX 1.3 billion) and 500 unidentified acres in Kabwoya, Kyangwali (UGX 2.75 billion), alongside vehicles worth UGX 250 million. A UGX 1.35 billion installment for the Kabwoya land was reportedly transferred to Maganda’s account on December 16, 2024.

Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi remanded the suspects until March 19, 2025, pending further investigations.  Efforts to apprehend remaining suspects, including Kakson.

Prosecutors confirmed charges under Uganda’s Penal Code, which carry severe penalties if convicted. The case highlights SH-ACU’s resilience to safeguarding public funds, as the it vows stricter oversight of SACCO operations.

The court adjourned with orders to expedite inquiries, while the accused’s lawyers declined immediate comment. Teachers’ unions have called for urgent audits of all SACCOs benefiting from the presidential initiative.

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Appearing before the Kanungu Magistrates Court, William pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining money by false pretence after soliciting funds from hundreds of PDM beneficiaries under the false claim that payment was a prerequisite to access program benefits.

The court, considering the scale of his actions and his admission of guilt, convicted and sentenced him to imprisonment.

His arrest and subsequent prosecution were spearheaded by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and local authorities.

The PDM, a flagship initiative aimed at alleviating poverty, has faced challenges, including mismanagement and fraud, which undermine its objectives. William’s sentencing serves as a warning to other officials engaging in similar malpractices.

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Following complaints of mismanagement of PDM funds, detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Uganda Police, and the DPP’s office sprang into action.

Investigations revealed that some recipients were not the intended beneficiaries, leading to arrests of teachers and local leaders involved in enabling ineligible individuals to access the funds.

Over Slover UGX 10 million has been recovered so far, with more expected. Key suspects identified include District Speaker Nkwemerere Robert, District Commercial Officer Asasira Winson Kafurembe, and others involved in irregular payments bypassing verification processes by Parish Development Committees.

The findings are exposing a scheme of extortion where bribes facilitated illegitimate access to funds, a detriment to transparency and accountability in government initiatives.

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Wakoko Kasim, the Parish Chief Bunandutu, faces charges of obtaining money by false pretences. He allegedly deceived several Bunandutu PDM SACCO members, fraudulently acquiring large sums under the guise of processing their funds.

Nakhaima Francis, an employee of public service, stands accused of falsifying documents related to Bumakita PDM SACCO funds. Alongside accomplices still at large, they submitted erroneous returns and registered non-beneficiaries into the system.

Both suspects have been remanded until 5th November 2024 while investigations continue. This development highlights ongoing efforts to combat financial misconduct and uphold integrity in fund management practices.

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Kobusingye Esther, who serves as the Town Agent for Kibasi ward in Kibasi Town Council, along with Godfrey Busingye, Town Agent for Kinyererezi ward in Kijura Town Council, are currently facing charges before the Chief Magistrates Court in Fortportal.

Additionally, two leaders from the PDM SACCO are involved in this case. They include Fred, the Chairperson of Kabedde Ward PDM SACCO, and Mugabe Robert, the Vice Chairperson of Kibedde ward PDM SACCO, all hailing from Kabarole district.

The charges they are facing revolve around allegations of extorting money from numerous members of various SACCOs and enterprise groups.

The accused individuals are accused of engaging in fraudulent activities between November 2023 and September 2024.

During this period, they allegedly deceived several PDM beneficiaries from the villages of Harubaho and Kyamuhoro in Kibasi Town Council, as well as Nyansozi village in Mugusu Town Council.

They purportedly claimed that the payment of money was a necessary step for facilitating the processing of the beneficiaries’ funds, which was not the case.

As a result of these allegations, all the accused parties have been remanded in custody until the court date of 14th October 2024. The legal proceedings will continue to unfold as the case is investigated further and brought to trial.

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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.

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It is alleged that at least Shs41 million was withdrawn from the accounts of several PDM Saccos and paid to beneficiaries unknown to group leaders.

The affected PDM Saccos include Migadde Parish Sacco located in Katikamu sub-county which lost Shs13 million and Buyego PDM Sacco in Ndejje town council whose Shs15 million cash was withdrawn without the knowledge of the executive committee leaders.

Other affected PDM Saccos include Kakinzi, Kalwanga, Kyawangabi and Bukammbagga all located in Butuntumula sub-county, which lost a total of Shs13 million.

Bwabye explains that the PDM Sacco executive committee leaders detected the unsuspicious withdrawals after they checked balances and found less amount of funds on their bank accounts.

Bwabye explains that the PDM Sacco leaders requested bank statements only to find out that unknown people in their groups had been paid from their accounts with the authorization of the commercial office.

He adds that the Sacco leaders petitioned his office asking him to investigate the matter and he has since tasked the police to take up the matter to prosecute the suspects.

Bwabye says that preliminary investigations indicate that an officer at the district commercial office, whose identities have been withheld created a fake list of intended beneficiaries which he later approved to get the money using different Saccos as conduits of payments.

Bwabye says that they are still compiling reports from Luwero sub-county, Zirobwe, and Busiika town councils where the same trick was used to steal PDM funds from Sacco accounts.

Luwero district police commander John Ojokuna says that a file was opened up and statements recorded from PDM Sacco leaders pinning a commercial officer for embezzling the funds.

Ojokuna, however, noted that the implicated commercial officer has since gone into hiding and the police are hunting for him to explain the whereabouts of the funds.

Innocent Asaba, Luwero district chief administrative Officer was unavailable to comment on the case.

However, URN has established that upon receiving complaints of embezzlement against the commercial officer, the CAO allegedly ordered that he be transferred to Zirobwe town council but the officer has not yet reported there.

The same officer was also accused of asking for kickbacks from parish chiefs to process the loan applications for the approved beneficiaries.

In February 2022, President Yoweri Museveni launched the Parish Development Model, a program meant to eradicate poverty through the execution of development activities at the parishes.

Since then the ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has released at least Shs 10.8 billion to 101 parish SACCO accounts in Luwero district.However, cases of extortion and embezzlement of the funds are threatening the success of the program in the district.

Last year, police in Luwero arrested two leaders of Kyetume Parish Development Model Sacco for allegedly stealing Shs 21.7 million from the beneficiaries.

The suspects admitted to disbursing less money to applicants and pocketing the balances. They were released after they committed to refunding it.

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The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House together with police investigators arrested and arraigned Edoni Bernard, the Chairperson PDM of Pangisa ward in Arua City on allegations of extortion.

It is alleged Edoni sold fake copies of the PDM Constitution to the 50 groups of associations under Pangisa ward.

In July 2023, Edoni and others still at large, at Ojulua Cell in Arua City convened a meeting with the 50 PDM associations in Pangisa Ward in Arua City and demanded each group to pay sh15,000 allegedly for the purchase of PDM constitutions.

Edoni, who is directly responsible for mobilisation of the groups, extorted the sh15,000, claiming that it was for printing and went ahead to sell fake Constitutions to the members.

He was remanded until December 5.

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