PAKWACH — Hon. Balaam Barugahara, the Minister of Local Government, has arrived in Pakwach District and convened a meeting at the district council hall, following the President’s directive to intensify the fight against corruption in government programs.

The meeting was called to address complaints around the implementation of the Parish Development Model, PDM, and other issues in the district.

Addressing council leaders, technical staff, and security officials, the Minister said he had received information that some PDM focal persons in Pakwach had allegedly extorted money from beneficiaries.

According to the Minister, the suspects were earlier arrested over the allegations but were later released after they refunded the money they had allegedly collected from beneficiaries.

“The fact that they accepted the money and paid it back is evidence enough that a crime was committed,” Hon. Balaam told the council. “We cannot allow people to steal from the poor and then buy their way out.”

Citing the President’s directive on PDM, the Minister instructed the District Police Commander, DPC, to re-arrest the implicated focal persons and have them arraigned in court immediately.

“The President has been very clear on PDM. Whoever steals PDM money should be arrested without bond,” he said. “Let this serve as a warning to anyone thinking of diverting or extorting funds meant for wananchi.”