Residents from Kyebikube and neighboring villages in Kikagate Town Council, Isingiro District, have taken to the streets to protest against their leaders and parish chiefs, accusing them of extorting large sums of money in exchange for access to Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
The demonstrators claim that these leaders have been confiscating phones and national IDs from applicants who fail to pay bribes, allegedly citing President Museveni’s directive to collect at least Shs 100,000 from each individual before granting access to PDM funds.
“Some of us paid Shs 300,000, others Shs 200,000, depending on how they assessed you,” lamented Bahati Ramathan, adding that those who couldn’t raise the money were forced to surrender their phones and national IDs as collateral.
Turyasingura Friday, the LC1 chairman of Rwakijuma cell, stated that PDM leaders in their area have been extorting money from locals based on false claims. “You can imagine they lie to people that PDM funds are free money, so if we gave you Shs 800,000 off Shs 1 million, don’t you think you would go comfortably with that?”
The accused individuals, identified as Katushabe Lawrence, Tumuhimbise Donavence Mary, and Orakore Joseph, have since gone into hiding, with their known cell phones switched off.
The disbursement of PDM funds in the Isingiro South constituency has become politicized. Locals allege that those who support the incumbent, Bakunda Alex, are the ones benefiting from these funds, while supporters of his political rival, Mujuni Mali Sensio, are neglected.
“I was voted to benefit from the PDM funds, but when I reached there to collect the money, I was told that because I support Mali, they wouldn’t give me the money. They had confiscated my phone and national ID as collateral and are still holding them,” narrated Wilson Sanyu.
The accused have also allegedly demanded money from locals, claiming it is a presidential directive that anyone receiving Shs 1 million must first pay at least Shs 100,000. “They asked me to pay Shs 100,000, saying President Museveni directed that anyone who intends to get Shs 1,000,000 must first pay Shs 100,000,” Enid Apuli told the Nile Post.
As President Museveni prepares to tour the Ankole region for his regional PDM visits in March, the LC1 chairpersons of the affected villages have vowed to report these culprits to him for potential action.
“If I get a chance to speak to President Museveni when he visits, I will tell him that the people he appointed under PDM are typical thieves,” stated Mpaise Vikitoro, Chairman LC1 Kyebikube cell.
Ada Nasiima, the Isingiro Resident District Commissioner, expressed concern over the rising cases of corruption and extortion within the PDM program, stating that the district security team has been mobilized to apprehend those involved.
“In general, PDM here in Isingiro is doing well, except for some isolated cases of corruption and extortion. I have dispatched my intelligence team to the ground to arrest anyone involved,” Nasiima said.