Kyaka FM
Extortion of money by Sacco leaders under PDM, remains an impediment towards its implementation in Kyegegwa
21 May 2026, 10:47 am
By: Kyalisiima Asuman
The implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in some areas especially in Kyegegwa district, is still facing a lot of impediments ranging from extortion, lack of enough sensitization to the intended beneficiaries among others.
The PDM program, launched on 26 February 2022 in Kibuku district by President Yoweri Museveni, is a government-led initiative in Uganda aimed at transforming subsistence households into the money economy and lifting 17.5 million Ugandans in 3.5 million households out of poverty.
In Kyegegwa district, the same program was launched in August 2023 at Rwentuha sub county headquarters in Kyaka South.
Since the inception of the program in the district, multiple voices especially from the intended beneficiaries, started coming up by accusing their Sacco leaders for allegedly extorting money from them.
Similarly, in a petition seen by our reporter addressed to the office of the Resident District Commissioner Kyegegwa, signed by over 20 Members of Mpara PDM Sacco are also accusing Bagonza Stephen chairperson board Mpara PDM Sacco and Mugisha Alex the secretary among others for allegedly extorting money from them.
During an engagement meeting between the two parties that was convened by the Assistant RDC Kyegegwa Barker Ayekundira, on Wednesday May 20th at Mpara town council hall, the members who included Grace Kobusinge, adduced oral evidence that the accused persons used her National ID, phone number and other particulars and extracted money from her mobile money account phone.
Grace, other members on extortion
In his communication, the senior commercial officer Kyegegwa district Basaijainywe Rowland, condemned the practices of alleged extortion of PDM funds from the intended beneficiaries.
He also instructed the accused persons to stand aside and also handover all government gadgets that they have been using to execute their work to the ward agent Mpara.
Rowland on instructions
However, in an interview with our reporter, the accused persons who include Bagonza Stephen chairperson board Mpara PDM Sacco and Mugisha Alex the secretary, dismissed the claims leveled against them as baseless and attributed them to some people who wants to remove them from their offices
Bagonza and Mugisha on claims
Meanwhile in his message, Barker Ayekundira the Assistant RDC Kyegegwa, summoned both parties to appear in his office on Thursday the 21st May.
He also promised to kick start investigations to ascertain the facts.
Ayekundira on investigations