MBALE CITY: PDM SACCO Chairman in Northern Division Arrested Over Extortion

By Abubakar Bin Siraji

MBALE CITY

The Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO chairman for Nabuyonga Ward, Northern Division City in Mbale City was on Thursday August 15, 2024, arrested and detained on allegations of extorting money from beneficiaries.

Charles Mwingo, the SACCO chief was arrested on orders of Northern City Division Deputy RCC Yahaya Banja.

It is alleged that the PDM SACCO chairman has been extorting beneficiaries of PDM, charging them shs40,000UGx to Shs100,000 each before he could consider them for the fund.

Deputy RCC Banja emphasizes that his office has since received many complaints that the SACCO boss had become mean on recommending members.

“We have complaints from over 20 people against him, including members of his own executive who say they have been warning him in vain,” Banja told this Reporter.

Banja echoed that it is offensive for one to interfere with the government programme.

“No Ugandan is supposed to be charged before receiving PDM funding, and whoever does it doesn’t only commit abuse of office but also sabotages a government program which is not allowed,” he said.

Banja said; “Mwingo shall therefore serve as an example to all other PDM officials in Northern division city who steal from the poor.”

He highlighted that the bad practice is also common in other parts of the city division where he said he has already warned the area division leadership and the Community Development Officer (CDO) after receiving reports that they too have been engaging in the unreligious acts.