SACCO chairperson jailed for soliciting sh25,000 PDM bribe

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A Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) chairperson has been jailed for corruption involving funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.

Moses Katumba, a resident of Nakoosi village in Namuyenje, was sentenced to two months in prison for soliciting a bribe of shillings 25,000 in relation to PDM.

On June 18, 2025, Katumba pleaded guilty to the corruption charge before the Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe.

When the charge was read to him in court and he was asked whether it was true that he had solicited the money, Katumba admitted, saying, “It is true”.

“Plea of guilty is hereby entered in respect of count of corruption,” Asiimwe said.

Senior state attorney Raymond Mugisa from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed court that Katumba, while serving as chairperson of Namuyenje-Nakisunga PDM SACCO Ltd, solicited a bribe in connection with the disbursement of parish revolving funds.

Mugisa told the court that Katumba, who was responsible for overseeing the distribution of funds to selected beneficiaries, demanded a bribe of shillings 25,000 from Dick Mawanda in exchange for granting him access to the funds.

Mugisa informed the court that the convict is a first-time offender with no previous criminal record. However, he urged the court to impose a stringent sentence, arguing that the beneficiaries were denied the opportunity to utilise the funds for income-generating activities due to the convict’s actions.

While delivering the sentence, Asiimwe noted that corruption-related offences are increasingly becoming rampant and should not be tolerated. She said the court took into account the fact that the convict, Katumba, pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and did not waste the court's time.

In addition to serving a two-month custodial sentence, Katumba was ordered to pay compensation of shillings 50,000 to the complainant, Mawanda.

The sentencing comes weeks after President Yoweri Museveni, while on a tour of Kasese district on May 12, 2025, warned local leaders against mismanaging funds under the PDM.