552 arrested over theft of PDM funds as Police warn more suspects
Kituuma said 429 of the suspects had appeared in court since the nationwide operation began on August 4, 2026.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma. (File)
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Police have arrested 552 suspects over the alleged theft, diversion and abuse of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, warning that investigations will be extended to other parts of the country as security agencies pursue those accused of depriving beneficiaries of government support.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said 429 of the suspects had appeared in court since the nationwide operation began on August 4, 2026.
Addressing journalists at Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday, October 12, Kituuma said the operation had so far covered 12 Police regional jurisdictions, including Karamoja, Teso, Bugisu, Sebei, Bukedi, Busoga and parts of Buganda, specifically Luwero and Wakiso districts.
He said the operation was targeting people suspected of stealing or diverting funds intended to help households transition from subsistence production into the monetary economy.
Under PDM, government funds are channelled through savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs) at the parish level to support beneficiaries engaged in income-generating activities.
Kituuma said the theft and abuse of the funds undermines the programme’s objectives by denying intended beneficiaries opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
“Theft and other forms of abuse of these funds undermine this objective, and this is a very critical national objective. So, they deny the intended beneficiaries the opportunity to improve their lives,” he said.
The police publicist said Police had brought together several directorates and other government agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute suspects.
The operation involves the Directorate of Crime Intelligence, Criminal Investigations, uniformed operational commanders and the Professional Standards Unit, which investigates misconduct involving Police personnel.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, resident district commissioners, other public officers and members of civil society have also been involved.
Who has been arrested?
SACCO leaders account for the largest category of suspects, with 251 arrests, followed by 81 parish chiefs.
Police have also arrested 25 parish development committee leaders, six local council leaders, 23 representatives of local council leaders, 23 teachers and five district commercial officers.
The remaining suspects fall into other categories. Kituuma said the suspects face a range of charges, depending on their alleged roles in the schemes.
These include theft, forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to defraud, extortion and cheating.
He said some suspects allegedly helped alter or forge documents to facilitate the diversion of funds, while others allegedly demanded payments from beneficiaries before processing their money.
“Those who would tell you that, for you to have your money processed, you must release something; we also took those on,” he said.
More regions to be covered
Kituuma warned that the ongoing operation would extend to areas not yet covered, urging people who have stolen funds, made illegal deductions or participated in fraudulent transactions to correct the situation and refund the money.
He cited western Uganda, including areas in the Rwenzori region and Kabarole, as among the areas where suspects should expect the security teams to operate.
“The operation is coming without a doubt; it is a question of when,” he said.
He urged those who allegedly used forged documents, facilitated fraudulent payments or extorted beneficiaries to stop the practices and return money obtained unlawfully.
“If you know you made deductions illegally, refund. Stop arguing, just go and correct the process, because it is so certain these teams are coming,” he said.
The police spokesperson warned that suspects should not assume they were safe simply because their districts had not yet been reached by investigators.
Victims warned against intimidation
Kituuma warned people suspected of stealing PDM funds against intimidating beneficiaries, who might report the alleged wrongdoing to authorities.
He said intelligence officers, including personnel from the Internal Security Organisation, were supporting the operation and gathering information about suspected offenders.
He urged victims to provide timely information that could help investigators identify suspects, trace diverted funds and take appropriate action.
“If you think you are going to use intimidation of victims, it’s a waste of your time,” he said.
Kituuma said the operation would continue in other areas, with the aim of protecting PDM funds and ensuring they reached the intended beneficiaries.