news 8 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kapelebyong officials arrested over PDM, Emyooga fund misuse
Two Kapelebyong District civil servants have been arrested, and over 30 others are being sought for allegedly misappropriating funds from government poverty-alleviation programs. The arrests follow a visit by the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, who ordered an investigation into the suspected abuse of Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga funds. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/two-arrested-30-sought-over-emyooga-pdm-funds-in-kapelebyong-5587400
Kapelebyong District is facing a crackdown on alleged corruption involving critical government poverty-reduction schemes. Two civil servants have been apprehended, while authorities are actively searching for more than 30 others implicated in the suspected misuse of funds from the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga programs.
The investigation was triggered by a monitoring visit on September 7, 2026, by the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Ms. Sandra Santa Alum. Following her visit, she directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to launch a probe into the suspected financial irregularities.
Among those arrested is Mr. Savior Francis Okello, the Kapelebyong District commercial officer. He is accused of improperly approving Shs5 million intended for restocking cattle to an ineligible recipient. Additionally, Mr. John Okiror, a district driver, was arrested after it was discovered he allegedly registered himself as a member of a women’s group and received Shs9 million in Emyooga funds, despite being a civil servant ineligible for the program.
Mr. Okiror claimed to have used the funds for a community fish pond, but officials found no such project existed, leading the minister to label it a “ghost project.” The minister has since ordered the arrest of over 30 other civil servants, including technical officers, military personnel, and teachers, who are suspected of illegally accessing PDM and Emyooga funds.
Minister Alum stressed that these programs have strict guidelines for beneficiaries and are not intended for salaried government employees. She mandated the recovery of all misappropriated funds and called for accountability for those who abused the programs. The Kapelebyong Chief Administrative Officer confirmed that some funds have already been recovered from civil servants who had improperly accessed them.