KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Police Force has issued a fresh warning to individuals involved in the theft or mismanagement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, urging them to surrender before they are tracked down and prosecuted.
The Director of Crime Intelligence, AIGP Major General Christopher Damulira, warned suspects to report themselves to police before the “long arm of the law” catches up with them.
Damulira issued the warning during a week-long review of Operation Rejesha Tumaini, the police-led crackdown on the theft and abuse of PDM funds in Eastern Uganda.
The review meetings brought together Resident City and District Commissioners, Regional Internal Security Officers, Regional Police Commanders, officers from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, LCV chairpersons, mayors, and Regional CID and Crime Intelligence officers.
The meetings were held at the Civil Service College in Busoga, Mt Elgon Hotel for the Bugisu and Sebei regions, and Soroti University for the Teso and Karamoja regions.
The operation follows President Yoweri Museveni’s directive to Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba to act on intelligence reports alleging widespread abuse of PDM funds, particularly through the creation of ghost beneficiaries, unlawful deductions and extortion.
The IGP subsequently directed Maj Gen Damulira and the Director of Criminal Investigations, AIGP Tom Magambo, to launch the police-led operation targeting individuals involved in the diversion of PDM funds.
According to police, more than 300 suspects have so far been arrested and charged in court by specialised teams from CID and Crime Intelligence headquarters, working alongside ISO, the DPP and RDCs.
Damulira commended the agencies involved for what he described as strong coordination, which he said had contributed to the operation’s progress.
He directed security and law-enforcement teams to maintain the crackdown until all individuals who illegally handled or diverted PDM funds are identified, arrested and brought before the courts.
The warning comes as government intensifies efforts to protect PDM resources, which are intended to support poor and vulnerable households to improve their livelihoods and participate in the formal economy.
