By Sulaiman Kauki
KAMPALA — A total of 552 people have been arrested over the alleged theft and misuse of funds under Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM), with 492 suspects already taken to court, authorities have said.
The arrests stem from a nationwide enforcement operation that began on August 4, 2026, targeting individuals suspected of diverting money intended to help low-income households establish income-generating activities and transition from subsistence living to participation in the money economy.
According to figures released by the authorities, the 492 suspects who have appeared in court account for approximately 89 per cent of those arrested. They face various charges, including theft, embezzlement, forgery, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to defraud, extortion and cheating.
Those implicated include 251 leaders of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), 81 parish chiefs, 25 Parish Development Committee leaders, 23 local council leaders, 23 teachers and five District Commercial Officers.
The operation brings together several law enforcement and government institutions, including Police departments responsible for Crime Intelligence, Criminal Investigations, ICT and Operations, as well as the Professional Standards Unit. Other participating agencies include the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary, the Internal Security Organisation, Resident City and District Commissioners, Chief Administrative Officers and civil society representatives.
Enforcement activities have covered 12 police regional jurisdictions across several parts of eastern and northeastern Uganda, including Karamoja, Teso, Bugisu, Sebei, Bukedi and Busoga. The operation has also extended to parts of central Uganda, including Luweero and Wakiso districts.
The Parish Development Model is a government programme intended to improve household incomes by helping subsistence households engage in commercial production and other money-generating activities. Under the initiative, funds are channelled to beneficiaries through parish-level SACCOs.
The latest arrests highlight concerns over the management of resources allocated to the programme, particularly allegations that funds intended for vulnerable households have been diverted or obtained through fraudulent means.
Authorities maintain that the alleged financial abuses threaten the programme’s objectives by denying intended beneficiaries access to money meant to support their livelihoods and economic advancement.
The nationwide operation is aimed at identifying and prosecuting those suspected of involvement in the irregularities. The suspects remain subject to the judicial process, and the charges against them must be proved in court.