Three remanded over extorting from PDM beneficiaries

KABERAMAIDO - Three people accused of extorting money from Parish Development Model (PDM) programme beneficiaries in Opungure parish, Kakure sub-county in Kalaki district have been remanded to Kaberamaido government farm prison.

The Kaberamaido Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Patricia Ndagire, remanded the three after they pleaded not guilty to extorting from PDM beneficiaries.

The three accused are: the Opungure parish chief, Joseph Olingo, aged 53 years, the chairperson of Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation), James Edwonu, and Josephat Ocepa, the secretary of the Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO in Kalaki district.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, arraigned the three suspects before the Kaberamaido court on May 19. 

From the moment they arrived at court, the three did not want to be captured on camera, and they kept turning their backs on the cameras.

Prosecution led by the Resident State Attorney, Irene Nambozo, alleged that Olingo, in August 2024, by false pretence, the accused received sh20,000 from Serida Anyango, claiming that he would enrol her to be among the beneficiaries, which he did not do.

Prosecution added that in July 2024, Olingo, by false pretence, received sh30,000 and a cock from Peter Olobo of Kakure sub-county, claiming that he would enrol him for PDM, but he did not. 

Meanwhile, Edwonu is being accused of having received sh64,000 by false pretence from Anthony Eyaru while claiming that he would enrol him to be among the PDM beneficiaries, which he did not do.

Ocepa was also accused of having received sh18,000 by false pretence from Eyaru while claiming that he would be enrolled among PDM beneficiaries, which did not happen.
All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the three, along with others still at large, allegedly obtained money from over 100 PDM beneficiaries from Kalaki district's Opungure Parish in Kakure sub-county during the year 2024.

They allegedly did so by falsely claiming they would include the beneficiaries' names among those eligible for support from the Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO, which was not the case.

Nambozo told the court that inquiries were still ongoing.

Ndagire remanded the three accused persons to Kaberamaido government farm prison until June 16, 2026, when they will reappear in court.