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Rukararwe PDM Sacco in meeting
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By Our Reporter
Mitooma – The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mitooma District, Umar Muhanguzi, has ordered the disbandment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) committee for Rukararwe Parish in Katenga Sub-county, following allegations of corruption.
The decision was made after residents lodged complaints that committee members were soliciting bribes to facilitate access to PDM funds. The allegations centered on Harriet Ahairwe, the PDM treasurer, and Beinomugisha Vicent, who also serves as both the Katenga Sub-county NRM chairperson and the Rukararwe PDM committee chairperson.
Rukararwe Parish Development Model chairperson Beinomugisha Vicent
During a meeting held at Rukararwe Parish headquarters—which brought together locals and Mitooma District leaders—residents informed the RDC that the duo had been demanding money from beneficiaries seeking access to the program, a practice that violates PDM guidelines.
Beinomugisha Josephat, the Rukararwe Village chairperson, told the meeting that the PDM committee had been prioritizing recent applicants while sidelining those who applied three years ago.
"Many people in my village were frustrated because they felt sidelined, and this created tension," Josephat said. "I nearly lost the recently concluded NRM primaries because of the anger among locals over the mismanagement of the Parish Development Model in my area."
RDC Umar Muhanguzi and other district chairing the meeting
In response to these concerns, RDC Muhanguzi ordered Beinomugisha Vicent and Harriet Ahairwe to refund a total of 2,800,000 shillings, which residents claimed they had paid in order to fill out application forms to benefit from the program.
"We cannot tolerate corruption in a program designed to uplift the livelihoods of our people. Those who took money illegally must return it. I have directed the district commercial officer to follow the law and disband the committee with immediate effect to restore trust in the system," Muhanguzi said.
Meanwhile, Beinomugisha Vicent and Harriet Ahairwe dismissed the allegations, explaining that individuals omitted from the first batch had not been captured by the system.
The RDC assured residents that appropriate measures would be taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Parish Development Model in the area.
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