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Parish chief convicted of soliciting bribes from PDM beneficiaries
The Nakasero-based court, presided over by Principal Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit, convicted Basingo on June 10, 2026, after he changed his plea and admitted to all the charges.
Parish chief convicted of soliciting bribes from PDM beneficiaries
By: Edward Anyoli, Journalist @New Vision
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A parish chief has been convicted of soliciting bribes from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.
Godrick Basingo, 33, the parish chief of Bujonjo village, Kasunganyanja parish, Kabiito subcounty in Bunyangabu district, was convicted on 15 counts of corruption by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
The Nakasero-based court, presided over by Principal Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit, convicted Basingo on June 10, 2026, after he changed his plea and admitted to all the charges.
Principal Grade One Magistrate Opit ordered Basingo to pay a fine of sh150,000 on each of the 15 counts. In default of payment, he will serve a one-year jail term on each count.
Basingo had initially denied the charges, prompting the prosecution to present four witnesses who testified before the court.
According to the facts presented in court, Basingo, while serving as a parish chief, accepted a bribe of sh10,000 from Yusta Kengazi on April 6, 2025, at Kahondo in Kisomoro subcounty, Bunyangabu district.
The court heard that Basingo, who was a public officer responsible for updating individual loan applications in the Parish Development Information System (PDIS) for beneficiaries seeking Parish Development Model funds, received the money in exchange for including Kengazi's name in the system.
Other people from whom Basingo allegedly received sh10,000 to provide similar services included Silvesta Agaba, Alice Byakagaba, Wilson Mugume, Christine Nyakaisiki, Wilson Musabe, Annet Kabatoro, Samuel Nyakana and Juliana Asiimwe.
The prosecution, led by senior state attorney Raymond Mugisa from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), told the court that cases involving the mismanagement of Parish Development Model funds were becoming increasingly common and undermining the Government's efforts to improve livelihoods and transition Ugandans into the money economy.
Mugisa asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence to send a strong warning to public officials involved in the misuse of public resources.
“Your Worship, the convict has no previous criminal record, but the misuse of public funds under the PDM programme is becoming rampant. I pray for a deterrent sentence,” Mugisa submitted.
The court heard that Basingo, who was a public officer responsible for updating individual loan applications in the Parish Development Information System (PDIS) for beneficiaries seeking Parish Development Model funds, received the money in exchange for including Kengazi's name in the system.
Other people from whom Basingo allegedly received sh10,000 to provide similar services included Silvesta Agaba, Alice Byakagaba, Wilson Mugume, Christine Nyakaisiki, Wilson Musabe, Annet Kabatoro, Samuel Nyakana and Juliana Asiimwe.
The prosecution, led by senior state attorney Raymond Mugisa from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), told the court that cases involving the mismanagement of Parish Development Model funds were becoming increasingly common and undermining the Government's efforts to improve livelihoods and transition Ugandans into the money economy.
Mugisa asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence to send a strong warning to public officials involved in the misuse of public resources.
“Your Worship, the convict has no previous criminal record, but the misuse of public funds under the PDM programme is becoming rampant. I pray for a deterrent sentence,” Mugisa submitted.
Magistrate Opit agreed with the prosecution that the misuse of public funds was becoming rampant and emphasised that officials entrusted with public resources must not abuse their positions.
He said the court had considered all relevant factors, including the circumstances of the case, but noted that Basingo's actions of demanding money for services that were meant to be provided free of charge could not be tolerated.
“The convict is hereby sentenced to pay a fine of sh150,000 on each count and, in default of payment, shall serve one year's imprisonment,” Opit said.
President warns on PDM
President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly warned against the theft and mismanagement of Parish Development Model funds, promising a nationwide crackdown on corrupt officials and requiring those found culpable to refund the money. The President has emphasised that the funds are intended to help poor households escape exploitative moneylenders and join the money economy, making corruption a direct threat to the programme's objectives.
According to Museveni, the Parish Development Model and other wealth creation programmes are intended to increase the number of wealth creators engaged in commercial agriculture, industry and services.
The Parish Development Model is premised on the idea that parish development committees, working together with grassroots citizens as the end users of public services, are best placed to identify priorities and guide the use of resources. The model also seeks to support infrastructure and systems that promote the processing and marketing of Uganda's agricultural products.
He said the court had considered all relevant factors, including the circumstances of the case, but noted that Basingo's actions of demanding money for services that were meant to be provided free of charge could not be tolerated.
“The convict is hereby sentenced to pay a fine of sh150,000 on each count and, in default of payment, shall serve one year's imprisonment,” Opit said.
President warns on PDM
President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly warned against the theft and mismanagement of Parish Development Model funds, promising a nationwide crackdown on corrupt officials and requiring those found culpable to refund the money. The President has emphasised that the funds are intended to help poor households escape exploitative moneylenders and join the money economy, making corruption a direct threat to the programme's objectives.
According to Museveni, the Parish Development Model and other wealth creation programmes are intended to increase the number of wealth creators engaged in commercial agriculture, industry and services.
The Parish Development Model is premised on the idea that parish development committees, working together with grassroots citizens as the end users of public services, are best placed to identify priorities and guide the use of resources. The model also seeks to support infrastructure and systems that promote the processing and marketing of Uganda's agricultural products.