PDM Corruption Crackdown: Ballam Warns Extortionists to Refund Money Within Three Weeks or Face the Basement.
By Peterson Hiirya.
The Minister for Local Government, Ballam Barugahara, has issued a three-week ultimatum to all individuals who allegedly received kickbacks, bribes, or illegally extorted money from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program to return the funds or face serious consequences.
Speaking during preparations for a nationwide accountability campaign, Barugahara warned that government would not tolerate corruption that undermines the objectives of the PDM initiative, which was established to improve household incomes and fight poverty at the grassroots level.
The minister announced that more than 114 public rallies will be conducted across the country, providing communities with an opportunity to openly identify and expose individuals who solicited or received bribes from PDM beneficiaries.
“We are giving all those who extorted money, received kickbacks, or demanded bribes from PDM beneficiaries three weeks to refund the money. This is the time to make things right. Whoever engaged in such acts should pay back the money now,” Barugahara said.
According to the minister, residents attending the rallies will be given an opportunity to name officials and individuals involved in corrupt practices related to the implementation of the PDM program. The information gathered will be used to facilitate further action against those implicated.
Barugahara also revealed that President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend some of the accountability meetings as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen transparency and ensure that public funds reach intended beneficiaries.
He cautioned those involved in misappropriating PDM funds to act immediately by returning the money before the community exposure exercises commence.
“The corrupt should pay back the swindled money now before they are exposed by the very people they exploited,” he said.
The planned rallies form part of a broader government campaign to combat corruption and restore public confidence in the Parish Development Model, one of Uganda’s flagship socio-economic transformation programs
