Police have arrested 552 suspects in ongoing operations targeting individuals accused of stealing and mismanaging Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, with 492, representing about 89 per cent, already appearing in court.
Speaking during the weekly press briefing on Monday, Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said the suspects face charges including theft, forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to defraud, extortion and cheating.
Those arrested include 251 Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) leaders, 81 parish chiefs, 25 Parish Development Committee leaders, 23 local council leaders, 23 teachers and five district commercial officers, among others.
Rusoke said the theft and misuse of PDM funds undermined the programme’s objectives and denied intended beneficiaries the opportunity to improve their livelihoods.
The operation, which began on August 4, 2026, brings together several agencies, including the Police directorates of Crime Intelligence, Criminal Investigations, ICT and Operations, the Professional Standards Unit, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
Other participating institutions include the offices of resident city and district commissioners, chief administrative officers and members of civil society.
According to Police, the operation has so far covered 12 police regional jurisdictions across Karamoja, Teso, Bugisu, Sebei, Bukedi, Busoga and parts of Buganda, including Luweero and Wakiso.
Rusoke warned individuals involved in the theft or diversion of PDM funds, including those in areas yet to be covered by the operation, to return the money.
He said the operation was targeting people who used forged documents to obtain funds, facilitated the registration of beneficiaries using fake telephone contacts or made unauthorised deductions from beneficiaries.
Police also appealed to affected beneficiaries and members of the public with information about the suspected theft or misuse of PDM funds to report to the nearest police station, an ISO officer or another security officer.
“Timely information will help our teams identify suspects, trace diverted funds and take appropriate action. The operation will continue in other areas to protect PDM funds and ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries,” Rusoke said.
The Parish Development Model is a flagship government initiative aimed at transitioning 39 per cent of households operating at subsistence level into the money economy.
Launched by President Museveni in February 2022, the programme uses the parish as the lowest administrative and operational unit for planning, budgeting, reporting and delivering services closer to communities.
It is intended to improve household incomes by supporting production, value addition, marketing and other income-generating activities.
