Residents of Kakunyu parish in Bukoto sub-county, Masaka district, have raised concerns over alleged extortion, corruption and other irregularities in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government programme aimed at lifting households out of poverty.During a recent open community baraza convened by the minister of state for Local Government, Justine Nameere Nsubuga, residents alleged that some Sacco leaders demand money from prospective beneficiaries before allowing them to access or benefit from the programme.Residents also raised concerns over alleged corruption in the identification and selection of PDM beneficiaries, calling for greater transparency in the management and distribution of government funds.Reports presented during the meeting further indicated that more than one person from the same household had allegedly bribed their way onto the list of beneficiaries. Among the cases highlighted were instances in which both spouses from the same household were listed as beneficiaries.Nameere urged parish Sacco leaders to uphold transparency and ensure that beneficiary selection is conducted in accordance with established PDM guidelines, without favouritism, extortion or other practices that could undermine the programme.She also encouraged community members to remain vigilant and report cases of corruption, extortion and other irregularities, saying community feedback was critical to strengthening accountability and ensuring that government programmes achieve their intended purpose.Earlier, President Yoweri Museveni tasked cabinet ministers with rooting out corruption in PDM in their respective constituencies, saying persistent corruption allegations had disrupted his previous presidential campaigns at rallies across the country.Museveni warned that corruption reported in a minister’s constituency would be held against the minister personally.The PDM was established in 2022 to improve household incomes and livelihoods, particularly in rural areas, by moving households from subsistence production into the money economy through a revolving fund administered through parish Saccos.The programme targets each eligible household with up to Shs 1 million in financing, with the broader objective of enabling beneficiaries to build sustainable income-generating activities.However, like several previous government poverty-alleviation programmes, PDM has faced allegations of corruption, mismanagement, bribery and favouritism, raising concerns about whether funds are reaching their intended beneficiaries.The post Masaka residents decry alleged extortion, corruption in PDM appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.