Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama, the deputy director for National Parish Development Model (PDM) has ordered the arrest of five program officers in Bukomansimbi district involved in extortion.
Kaliisa, accompanied by officials from the state house, directed the police to apprehend the implicated leaders following a public outcry from members of the Nakatete Poultry Keeping SACCO in Kagologolo town council.
The SACCO members had gathered at the Resident District Commissioner's (RDC) office, demanding explanations for discrepancies in the funds allocated to them.
Led by Nnaalongo Margret Nabyanzi, the SACCO members staged a sit-in, protesting that instead of receiving the promised shs MILLION each, they were only given shs 715,000.
The frustrated members demanded either a full allocation or a fair explanation, threatening to escalate the matter when the repayment period arrived.
“They gave me shs 940,000 after deducting shs60,000, which they said was for bank charges. But on my way home, Parish Chief Nakagera called me asking for shs100,000. I gave it to her. I also paid shs50,000 for insurance, shs 10,000 to the SACCO chairperson Harriet Nankabirwa, and shs5,000 for an unspecified purpose, leaving me with shs 715,000,” Nabyanzi stated.
Nabyanzi also mentioned that parish chief Nankabirwa had told them that the insurance would help repay their money if their coffee did not grow well.
"We were shocked to see that the amounts we were given were much less than what we were promised. This is unfair, and we demand answers. Will we return the shs 1 million that we did not use, or are we supposed to return shs715,000?" Nabyanzi questioned.
In response, Kaliisa directed her team to investigate the complaints.
“These officials have turned this noble program into a trap, discouraging the very people it was meant to help. This is unacceptable," she fumed.
She also ordered the arrest of Dr. George William Ssekanwagi, the PDM coordinator in Bukomansimbi; Alex Mabirizi, the PDM focal person; Teddy Nakagera, the Kagologolo Parish chief; Harriet Nankabirwa, the SACCO chairperson; and Juuko Godfrey, the SACCO insurance money collector.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that Parish Chief Nakagera had ordered the deductions from the allocated amounts.
Sacco Chairperson Nankabirwa admitted, “I was acting on orders from Chief Nakagera to deduct the money. The day I gave her shs 500,000, she only gave me shs 10,000.”
The situation further escalated when Godfrey Juuko, the chairman of the sacco Executive Committee and responsible for insurance collection, failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the deductions.
He mentioned an unnamed person who instructed him to collect the insurance money.
This prompted Kaliisa to demand an immediate refund of the deducted amounts.
Despite the refunds being processed, Kaliisa ordered the suspects' arrest to ensure a thorough investigation.
“We will not tolerate any form of corruption. The suspects must face the law,” she asserted.
Dr. George William Ssekanwagi, the Bukomansimbi PDM coordinator, in his defense, admitted the deductions but claimed they were following orders from the National Insurance Regulatory Authority to demonstrate the withdrawal process to the farmers.
“We were instructed to show them the purpose of insurance deduction. We also taught them as we were taught during a workshop in Masaka with the insurance regulatory authority. We started this process in Bukomansimbi in March 2024 after receiving the training,” Ssekanwagi explained.
The development has brought a smile to the faces of SACCO members in Bukomansimbi.
“We trust that the authorities will ensure such injustices do not happen again. We need transparency and fairness,” said one of the affected sacco members.
The arrests mark a significant step in the fight against corruption within local government programs, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency.
