Ndejje Town clerk, agent remanded over PDM funds

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Luwero Magistrate’s Court has remanded the Town Clerk and Town Agent of Ndejje town council to prison for allegedly stealing money under the Parish Development Model program.

Joseph Male Nsereko the Town Agent of Buyego ward and Winfred Nansikombi the Town clerk of Ndejje town council in Luwero district on Wednesday appeared before Luwero Chief Magistrate Mariam Nalugya Ssemwanga after State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested them.

The two were charged with nine counts of theft of funds and conspiracy to defraud Parish Development Model program beneficiaries.

According to Prosecution led by Racheal Kirabo, the two and James Noah Ssemayobe the Luwero District Commercial Officer who is still on the run, between November and December 2023 stole one million shillings from each Christine Namala and Damalie Kisakye under the PDM program contrary to section 237 of the penal code act 128 as amended.

The accused persons were also charged with conspiracy to defraud Justine Namuddu, Harriet Nakayiza, Damalie Kisakye, and Christine Namala each one million shillings contrary to section 289 of the Penal Code Act cap 128 as amended.

The State prosecution also told the court that Nsereko, Semayobe, and others still at large also conspired to defraud beneficiaries of Buyego PDM SACCO of shilling 13,000,000 shillings. Both Nsereko and Nansikombi denied the charges. Nsereko presented one surety Yusuf Kibuuka for bail application whereas Nansikombi had none. The state Attorney objected to the bail application because the co-accused Ssemayobe is still on the run and Nsereko failed to present a required number of sureties.

Mariam Nalugya Ssemwanga rejected the bail application for Nsereko and remanded the two accused officials to Butuntumula prison till 24th July this year when they will return to court for the hearing of their cases.

According to the Investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the accused together with Semayobe during the disbursement of PDM money for 3rd phase in Luwero district, manipulated the beneficiaries list and fraudulently inserted 19 names of their relatives and friends who were not residents of the area.

The accused officers went ahead and paid them money leaving out the right beneficiaries of the SACCO.

Among the persons’ inserted, included two daughters of the Town clerk Nansikombi, who received funds to the detriment of the legitimate beneficiaries.

The two were arrested after the intended beneficiaries petitioned the Resident District Commissioner who asked the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the case.

In February 2022 President Yoweri Museveni launched the Parish Development Model, a program meant to eradicate poverty through the execution of development activities at the parishes.

However, cases of extortion and embezzlement of the funds are threatening the success of the program in Luwero district.

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