Two officials have been charged in the Koboko Chief Magistrate’s Court over allegations of extorting money from residents under the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Degiba Parish, Midia Sub- County, Koboko District.
The suspects have been identified as Driciru Caroline, the Community Development Officer, and Ayite Sebbi Zaituni, the Chairperson of Degiba PDM SACCO. They are facing charges of demanding money with menaces.
According to the prosecution, the two, together with others still at large, are accused of soliciting money from PDM beneficiaries between 2023 and June 2025.
The suspects allegedly demanded bribes in exchange for granting community members access to government funds meant to boost household incomes at the parish level.
Their arrest and arraignment followed a joint operation conducted by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit working alongside the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Authorities say the suspects took advantage of their roles in the PDM implementation structure to extort money from vulnerable community members.
The alleged actions undermined the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty through its flagship parish-based programme.
The court has remanded the suspects as investigations continue. Officials have also confirmed that efforts are underway to trace and prosecute the remaining suspects involved in the scam.
The Parish Development Model was launched by the government to transition subsistence households into the money economy.
However, cases of corruption and mismanagement continue to pose serious threats to its successful implementation across the country.
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