Four suspects have been arrested over falsified documents, extortion, and fraudulent activities surrounding the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in Amudat District.

The arrests follow a high-level regional security meeting led by SSP Madiri Ahmed, the regional Police Commander for Mt Moroto to address allegations implicating local government officials and their Kenyan counterparts in a scheme to swindle PDM beneficiaries.

Preliminary investigations reveal that parish chiefs in Lokaales Parish colluded with outsiders to alter beneficiary registers, where names of rightful beneficiaries were replaced with ineligible individuals.

According to police, the suspects allegedly demanded bribes of 150,000 shillings from residents to register them in the program.

The regional CID Chief SSP Kalimbano has meanwhile assured the public that investigations will leave no stone unturned.

The arrests come in the wake of a stern directive by President Yoweri Museveni, who recently warned against corrupt practices during his zonal tours in Teso Sub-region.

Museveni made it clear that government programs are free of charge and any official found extorting money or engaging in fraud will face severe consequences, including being denied police bond.