Agency
President Yoweri Museveni has announced plans to engage Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo to ensure individuals accused of embezzling funds from the Emyooga and Parish Development Model (PDM) programs are denied bail.
Museveni made the statement during a meeting with leaders from the Teso Region at Boma North Playgrounds in Kumi District, emphasizing that embezzling public funds will not be tolerated.
The PDM, launched in February 2022, is a five-year strategy aimed at lifting Ugandans out of poverty by bringing services closer to communities.
Beneficiaries are each entitled to one million shillings to facilitate their economic activities.
However, reports of extortion and misuse of funds have emerged with Museveni expressing his frustration over leaders’ misconduct and the granting of police bonds to those arrested for fund mismanagement.
Museveni directed the Regional Police Commander not to grant bail to anyone implicated in PDM and Emyooga fund misappropriation, warning that he would withhold bond from the Commander if his orders were ignored.
He stressed that refunding stolen money is insufficient; offenders must also face imprisonment.
Despite Museveni’s stance, the Ugandan Constitution grants judicial officers the discretion to grant or deny bail, a power that must be exercised judiciously.
