There was drama on Monday when the Bubuye parish chief and Parish Development Model (PDM) Sacco leaders refunded money they had extorted from the group beneficiaries.
Sunday Steven, commonly known as Igufa, the Bubuye Parish Chief admitted to have collected 150,000 Shillings from several people, and he refunded a total of 720,000 Shillings.
The money was refunded during a meeting with group members at Kisoro District headquarters.
The RDC’s office was represented by Hagumimana Vallence, the Assistant RDC.
Bubuye PDM Sacco treasurer, Winfred Nyirahabwa refunded Shs300,000, while Mukamarimpa Paul, the Sacco Secretary refunded Shs320,000.
Sources say the parish chief and Sacco leaders were summoned by the RDC’s office after reports linked them to extortion.
Kisoro PDM coordinator Dr Ngabo Herbart Bubasha warned against offering bribes.
“We shall ensure that anyone bribing leaders is arrested and punished. I want to remind you that giving bribes is also unlawful, because you are also supporting corruption. We shall arrest anyone found giving bribes also” said Bubasha.
The victims of extortion were handed their money, but sources intimated to www.vomuhabura.com that the suspects were briefly detained at Kisoro CPS for further investigations.
Kisoro Assistant RDC, Hagumimana Valence, challenged victims of corruption to come forward and report to authorities.
He assured protection and confidentiality of whistleblowers who reports about corrupt against leaders.
“I assure you that everyone will benefit from this project. Let no one threaten you that you won’t receive the money if you don’t give them kickbacks. Just report to us and we follow up.
If you have been registered, don’t allow these people to play on your minds. Report and we do our work.” Said Hagumimana.
The refunded money was returned to respective victims before the authorities.
The victims regret that they incurred loans from saving groups to bribe their Sacco leaders and parish chief.
“When they demanded that we first give them bribes, I went to our village group and they loaned me money. I have been struggling with interest, which even forced me to sell my sheep. We are happy that our money has been refunded, but government should find a mechanism to ensure that the money gets to us the poor people without such hurdles,” said the Sacco members.
At least a dozen parish chiefs and Town agents were recently arrested and briefly detained after being accused of pocketing bribes from intending PDM beneficiaries.
Without giving a report about previous arrests, the RDC’s office says more arrests are yet to be made.
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