Apac: Public servants under tension over PDM cash embezzlement

30 October 2023, 6:38 pm

By Editor

Over 10 public servants in Apac District are under stiffness after forcefully benefitting from the parish development modal (PDM) cash contrary to the presidential directive.

The revelation came late last week during a meeting which was organized by the office of the Resident District Commissioner Apac Mr. George Abudul in Aketo trading center, Ibuje Sub- County Apac district after the public’s outcry over the misappropriation of the funds in question.

The meeting found out that the Aketo parish chief Ms. Julliet Achola used her prerogative as the supervisor of PDM funds to include mostly civil servants, politicians and her close relatives among the beneficiaries who all received over 23 million shillings which was intended for the locals of Aketo parish, Ibuje subcounty, Apac district.

Ms. Achola is alleged to have forcefully taken over the processes of verification of beneficiaries from the SACCO leaders with ill intentions of including those that were not meant to benefit from the funds including herself contrary to the PDM guidelines.

The public servants confirmed have received the money include the Ibuje Sub- County LC 5 councilor Mr. Patrick Okwir, LC 3 chairperson Mr. Alex Ogota, Aketo parish area councilor Mr. Moses Oloi among other politicians.

Others include Ms. Julliet Achola the Aketo Parish chief, Walter Okwir and Henrey Anok all teachers at Aketo P/S and Mr. John Otika a teacher at Apala “A” Primary School in Oyam district among others.

According to the SACCO chairperson Mr. Ogwang Ambrose, their hands have been tight all through since the parish chief had taken over the management of the entire SACCO with a few of her close friends what he attributes to the cause of misappropriation of over Shs. 23 million which was meant for the locals of Aketo.

The Apac Resident District Commissioner Mr. George Abudul who chaired the meeting quickly ordered with immediate effect the refund of the 23 million shillings that was given to un authorized beneficiaries which includes politicians and civil servants who aren’t entitled to the funds.

He also asked the beneficiaries in question to quickly report to police and record a statement as per the alleged misappropriation.

The accused parish chief one Julliet Achola was arrested and released on police bond as investigation continues.

President Yoweri Museveni recently said that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government will not fail to bring to book all those involved in messing up the Parish Development Model (PDM) in which they have invested a lot of resources to get people out of poverty.

The Parish Development Model was launched in 2021 as the last mile strategy for service delivery by the Government of Uganda for improving the incomes and welfare of Ugandans at the household level.

It is an extension of the whole-of-government approach to development envisaged under NDP III, with the Parish as the lowest administrative and operational hub for delivering services closer to the people and hence fostering local economic development.