Police have warned people accused of stealing or mismanaging Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to surrender before investigators catch up with them, as a nationwide crackdown on the misuse of the government programme intensifies.
The warning was issued by the Director of Crime Intelligence, Major General Christopher Damulira, who said more than 300 suspects have so far been arrested and charged over alleged theft, extortion and other abuses involving PDM funds.
Damulira made the remarks during a series of review meetings for Operation Rejesha Tumaini, a police-led operation targeting individuals suspected of diverting funds meant for PDM beneficiaries.
The meetings were held in eastern Uganda, bringing together Resident District and City Commissioners, police commanders, regional internal security officers, local government leaders, officials from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and officers from the Criminal Investigations Directorate and Crime Intelligence.
Damulira urged those involved in the alleged theft or mismanagement of PDM funds to report themselves to police instead of waiting to be arrested.
According to police, the ongoing operation has so far resulted in more than 300 arrests and prosecutions.
The suspects were identified through investigations conducted by specialised teams from the Criminal Investigations Directorate and Crime Intelligence headquarters, working alongside the Internal Security Organisation, the DPP and Resident District Commissioners.
The crackdown follows President Yoweri Museveni’s directive for security agencies to act on intelligence reports alleging that some officials were frustrating the implementation of PDM by taking money intended for poor households.
Investigators have identified several alleged methods used to siphon off PDM funds, including the creation of ghost beneficiaries, unlawful deductions and extortion of money from intended beneficiaries.
Following the presidential directive, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba tasked Damulira and the Director of Criminal Investigations, Assistant Inspector General of Police Tom Magambo, with leading the police operation.
The operation, code-named Rejesha Tumaini, is intended to identify and bring to court people involved in the alleged theft and abuse of PDM funds.
Damulira, who spent the week reviewing the operation in eastern Uganda, commended the security and justice agencies involved for what he described as improved coordination.
He directed the teams to continue investigations until all individuals suspected of illegally accessing or handling PDM funds are identified, arrested and taken to court.
The latest crackdown forms part of broader government efforts to protect PDM resources from abuse.
The Parish Development Model is designed as a government strategy for taking financial and economic opportunities closer to households at parish level, with the broader objective of moving households from subsistence into the money economy.
Government has previously warned officials against diverting PDM and Emyooga funds. President Museveni has also directed security agencies to take firm action against those found responsible for stealing the funds.
For the police, the message from the ongoing operation is clear: individuals suspected of abusing PDM funds should surrender, while investigations will continue against those accused of denying intended beneficiaries access to the programme.
The crackdown is expected to continue as security agencies widen investigations into the management and distribution of PDM funds across the country.
