The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), in partnership with the Uganda Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), has arraigned John Bosco Kigundu, treasurer of the Kyeihara PDM SACCO in Kasaana Sub-county, Sheema District, before the Sheema Chief Magistrates Court on charges of fraudulently obtaining money by false pretenses.
Kigundu was arraigned before the Sheema Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, and has been remanded until April 17, 2025, pending further investigations.
According to SH-ACU, the accused allegedly solicited millions of shillings from hundreds of SACCO members, falsely claiming the payments were mandatory for accessing benefits under the PDM initiative.
While specific figures were not disclosed, the SH-ACU confirmed that the case involves a substantial amount of money, and investigations into the exact sums are ongoing.
SH-ACU encouraged the public, particularly PDM beneficiaries, to remain vigilant and report any cases of extortion or fraud linked to the program.
This case is part of SH-ACU’s broader anti-corruption efforts targeting the misuse of funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative designed to combat poverty by empowering communities through local financial access, with SACCOs serving as the primary means of delivering funds to beneficiaries at the parish level.
In November 2024, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) arrested 12 individuals in Sheema District and recovered over UGX 10 million in mismanaged Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
According to authorities, the current case is yet another example of the widespread misuse of community financial programs, which continues to undermine effective service delivery.
