By Dickens Twinomujuni
4 more officials were this Thursday arrested from Bunagana Town Council over alleged corruption in the government project, the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The arrested are Nshimiyimana Grolia, the Town Agent of Maziba ward, Nyirabutumwa Phoebe, the Town Agent Gitowa ward, and Nyiramugisha Jennifer, the Town Agent of Bunagana ward. Murekatete Agnes, the Bunagana Town Council office attendant is on run.
When the team convened at Bunagana Town Council headquarters, Murekatete was at the office, but she had disappeared when her name was read among the implicated officials.
They are all accused of extorting money between Shillings 100,000 and 150,000 from beneficiaries.
The arrest comes after the arrest of 3 people in Muramba Sub County over similar allegations. Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Robert Tukamuhebwa, ordered the arrests following complaints from beneficiaries who accused the officials of incompetence and extortion.
The authorities distributed small papers where the community members secretly penned names of the officials that demanded for bribes.
Tukamuhebwa said the officials arrested at Bunagana Town Council are notorious for corruption, having been transferred from Mupaka Town Council over the same.
“Town agent Gloria has been intimidating people. We received information about corruption in Bunagana early enough. Gloria and Diana have just been transferred from Mupaka Town Council to Bunagana. They had done a lot of mess in Mupaka. These girls were a big problem to us.” said Tukamuhebwa, as he addressed hundreds of residents and leaders of Bunagana Town Council.
According to Kisoro RDC Hajji Badru Sebyala, the project has been abused by government officials, contrary to Government’s target of developing the common person.
The suspects were taken to their respective police posts to record statements as police investigations take shape.
Valence Hagumimana, the Kisoro Assistant RDC, urges the public to come forward and report whoever demands bribes before receiving the money.
According to PDM beneficiaries, the officials demanded bribes between Shillings100,000 and 200,000 before they could appear on the list of beneficiaries. After offering the bribes, they would then receive the project fund worth Shs1,000,000.
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