Two public officials in Koboko District are facing criminal charges over a suspected bribery scheme that targeted vulnerable citizens under the government’s flagship Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
Driciru Caroline, the Community Development Officer, and Ayite Sebbi Zaituni, Chairperson of Degiba PDM SACCO, were this week arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of Demanding Money with Menaces—a serious offense linked to extortion and abuse of office.
Their arrest follows a coordinated operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), as authorities intensify the crackdown on corruption within key government programs.
According to court documents, the duo allegedly led a syndicate that demanded bribes from PDM beneficiaries between 2023 and June 2025. Victims, mostly vulnerable individuals in Degiba Parish, Midia Sub-county, were reportedly forced to part with money in exchange for accessing funds meant to transition households into the money economy.
Investigators say the suspects exploited their leadership positions within the PDM structures to impose illegal fees, defeating the very objective of the poverty alleviation initiative.
“This kind of exploitation of the poor and vulnerable is unacceptable,” said a source close to the investigations. “We are pursuing all involved parties and more arrests are expected.”
The PDM program, designed to drive inclusive development at the grassroots, has faced increasing scrutiny over corruption allegations in various districts. The government has now reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the initiative by holding corrupt officials accountable.
Citizens have been urged to remain vigilant and report any form of extortion through official anti-corruption channels as investigations into the Koboko case continue, with more suspects reportedly still at large.
