THEY say a thief has 40 days, and so the fortieth day for Nelson Bagaga the chairperson of Wansimba Parish Development Model (PDM), Butagaya Sub County in Jinja district came by surprise on Friday 11th July, 2024.
Although old age is supposed to be synonymous with wisdom, Nelson Bagaga, aged 60 chose an opposite path of deceit and falsehood in executing his duties which has now landed him on the wrong side of the law.
He was arrested and dumped at Buwenge CPS on charges of obtaining money by false pretense, which is a criminal offence contrary to the provisions in the Penal Code Act.
According to the Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi, the suspect was arrested following available and reliable documentary evidence which indicates that in the month of March,2024,the now caged Bagaga solicicited 500,000/= from four bazukulus under the guise of smuggling their names on the list of PDM beneficiaries.
The victims include Joyce Nakaibale, Norah Ndikusooka, Abdul Busengese and Alex Katabula who have already reported the matter to the CPS Buwenge where they also recorded statements.
“…the suspect (Bagaga) solicited between the range of 35,000/= to 50,000/=that accumulated to a tune of 500,000/=while assuring the victims that their names will appear on the next phase…” James Mubi said.
However trouble started when the names did not feature on the list, prompting the victims who had secretly recorded their conversations with Bagaga to report the matter to the Jinja RDC Richard Gulume Balyainho.
Gulume confirmed the incident saying the district team has been going to all the sub counties of Buwenge, Buyengo, Busede, Butagaya, Kakira Town Council and Buwenge Town Council to verify the list of beneficiaries.
He said they have unearthed some anomalies in some areas where some unscrupulous officials have been colluding to mismanage the programme which lies in the deep heart of President Yoweri Museveni-led NRM government to fight poverty.
“…for example we found out that seven members of a family had benefited in the last financial year and the same names were again smuggled in the new financial year…”, Gulume said without mentioning the names.
Richard Gulume who also doubles as the Dean of RDCs in Busoga used the incident to warn PDM chairpersons in the district and region to desist from extortion, abuse and misappropriation of the funds.
He says the money is now being disbursed directly through the mobile accounts of each individual upon verification, something that has reduced on encumbrances experienced in the past.
Last financial year, Jinja district gave out PDM money to 3,610 members and this year 3,410 members are expected to benefit from the multibillion government programme.
What Is PDM?
The PDM initiative was launched on 26 February, 2022 in Kibuku (eastern Uganda) by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as a strategy to improve service delivery and alleviate poverty at the grassroots level.
The PDM is made up of seven pillars: Production, processing and marketing-value chain development, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services community data or community information system.
It’s the last mile strategy for service delivery by the government for improving incomes and welfare of all citizens at the household level.
PDM is an extension of the whole of government approach to development as envisaged under National Development Plan (NDP) III, with the parish as the lowest administrative and operational hub for delivering services closer to the wanainchi.
What Is Obtaining Money by False Pretense?
Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
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