Three leaders of the Opungure-Kakure Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO in Kalaki District have been charged before the Kaberamaido Magistrates Court over allegedly extorting money from PDM beneficiaries.
The suspects were on Monday arraigned by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
They face charges of obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy to commit a felony. The court remanded them until June 16, 2026.
The accused are Olingo Joseph, the Parish Chief of Okungure Parish in Kakure Sub-County; Edwonu James, Chairperson of the Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO; and Ocepa Josphat, Secretary of the SACCO.
According to investigators, the trio, together with others still at large, allegedly obtained money from hundreds of residents in 2024 by falsely claiming they would include their names among beneficiaries eligible to receive support under the PDM programme.
Investigations indicate that many residents paid money in the hope of accessing government funds through the SACCO, only to later discover that the promises made to them were false.
Authorities said inquiries into the matter are ongoing as efforts continue to trace additional suspects linked to the alleged scam.
The Parish Development Model is a government programme aimed at lifting households out of subsistence farming and integrating them into the money economy through parish-based financial support initiatives.
