KALIRO, UGANDA – What was meant to be a routine Parish Development Model (PDM) assessment meeting turned into a scene of shock and anger as residents exposed massive rot in the district’s PDM demonstration farm project.
During the Anti-Corruption Campaign meeting organized by the Ministry of Local Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in Kaliro Town Council, residents raised a red flag about a PDM demonstration farm that government had funded with Shs 70 million to establish, with an additional Shs 6 million released every year for its maintenance.
According to residents, despite the annual disbursements, the facility has never served its intended purpose.
Responding to the complaints, Hon. Balaam who was presiding over the meeting, made an impromptu decision to leave the baraza and inspect the farm on site.
On the ground, the Minister found a glaring mismatch between paperwork and reality. There was only a water tank with no water pump, and completely dried-up, abandoned gardens. The demonstration farm, which was supposed to be a model for farmers in the district to learn modern farming practices under PDM, has never worked.
Outraged by the shoddy work and blatant wastage of government resources, Hon. Balaam immediately ordered the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to take action.
In a swift response, the Unit arrested two senior district officials in connection with the ghost project:
The Principal Agricultural Officer, Mr. Tinkamanyire Charles and the Senior Agricultural Officer Mr. Kibaya Thomas are now in custody to assist with investigations into abuse of office, shoddy work, and embezzlement of PDM funds.
The Minister warned that this is just the beginning, vowing that all officials implicated in stealing funds meant for the poor will be brought to book.
