Summary:
- Nkwemereire and Robert Matsiko, a district councilor representing Masheruka Town Council, were taken into custody on Tuesday at 2:10 pm from the Sheema District Council Hall during a budget conference.
SHEEMA: The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has arrested Sheema District Speaker Robert Nkwemereire on allegations of benefiting from Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, a violation of the program’s core guidelines.
Nkwemereire and Robert Matsiko, a district councilor representing Masheruka Town Council, were taken into custody on Tuesday at 2:10 pm from the Sheema District Council Hall during a budget conference. The arresting team did not authorize Nkwemereire to speak to reporters.
The charges stem from allegations that Nkwemereire and other district leaders, including some politicians and civil servants, unlawfully received the UGX 1 million PDM package. An anonymous source claims that numerous district leaders colluded with responsible offices to secure the funds intended for grassroots community development.
The two men join several other civil servants and politicians from Sheema District who have been arrested since Thursday, October 31, 2024, as part of the ongoing investigation into PDM fund misuse.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a community-driven initiative aimed at empowering local communities to manage their own development through collaborative planning.
Each parish the smallest administrative unit in Uganda creates a Parish Development Plan (PDP) that identifies and prioritizes its development needs.
The PDM relies on input from local government officials, community leaders, and parish residents to ensure that resources are allocated effectively.
