By Alfred Opio
PALLISA — The Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Pallisa District, Patrick Luis Okia, has issued a stern warning against increasing cases of extortion targeting beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
Speaking during an interview, Okia condemned individuals who demand money from beneficiaries in exchange for access to government funds, describing the practice as criminal and unacceptable.
“I’m also told that there is still an element of extortion,” Okia said. “Some people scare beneficiaries that if they want to benefit, they must give money in the form of airtime, data bundles, or cash. This is very criminal in nature.”
He revealed that government already provides facilitation funds to all officials involved in implementing the PDM program, making any form of extortion illegal.
According to Okia, SACCO leaders, parish chiefs, Community Development Officers (CDOs), LC2 chairpersons, Parish Development Committees (PDCs), and security officers such as GISOs are all facilitated to carry out their duties.
“Every SACCO with 50 beneficiaries is given Shs250,000 for facilitation. Parish chiefs are facilitated, CDOs are facilitated, LC2s together with their PDCs are facilitated, and even GISOs are facilitated. Therefore, there is no reason for anyone to extort money from beneficiaries,” he explained.
Okia warned that authorities will arrest both those demanding money and beneficiaries who willingly offer bribes.
“I’m warning those who pay money to SACCO leaders that we shall arrest both the giver and the receiver because you are all promoting corruption,” he emphasized.
The Assistant RDC also clarified misconceptions surrounding the Parish Development Model funds, stressing that the money is not a reward for supporting the government politically but a revolving loan aimed at fighting poverty.
“This money is actually a loan. People should stop thinking it is meant to thank them for voting for the President. That is not true,” Okia said.
He explained that beneficiaries are expected to repay the money after two years with only a small interest charge.
“You take one million shillings, use it for two years, and only pay back an additional Shs60,000. This is the cheapest loan I have ever seen,” he noted.
Okia encouraged beneficiaries to invest the money wisely in productive projects that can improve household incomes and livelihoods.
“When you pay back, you can qualify for even bigger amounts in future. The time will come when someone can borrow Shs10 million because this has now become our community bank,” he explained.
He further clarified that the recovered money does not return to the national treasury but remains within the revolving fund system to benefit more Ugandans.
“This money is ours. We use it, pay back, and access it again,” he added.
Okia concluded by urging beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly to help eradicate poverty and improve living standards in line with government development goals.
“Let us invest this money in the right channels where we can benefit and improve our livelihoods,” he said.
