By Obbo Yusuf – obboyusuf43@gmail.com
Mande Idhube Baziriyo, the chairman LCIII Nangode Town Council in Namutumba district has appeared before Grade 1 Magistrate Mr.Busulwa Ivan in Iganga court on charges of theft of 1Million PDM money and remanded up to 15/7/2024.
The state house Anti-corruption unit has on Monday 1/7/2024 arraigned a local leader in Namutumba district in names of Mande Idhube Baziriyo before chief Magistrate’s court Iganga on charges of theft and has been remanded till 15/7/2024.
It is alleged that, the suspect devoted himself to help the old woman Wonaira Mirisah to open up a bank account and also help her to access PDM money. In December 2023, when PDM money was ready, the suspect took the victim to the Bank at Iganga and asked her to give him the phone and PIN to help her withdraw the money using mobile wallet. Later the suspect told the victim that money was not ready and he returned her phone before departing ways. It was the daughter of the victim who discovered that money was withdrawn when she saw the messages on the phone. The suspect was contacted and apologized, promising to pay the money but in vein.
When SHACU (state house Anti corruption unit ) took over the matter among other cases of PDM in Namutumba, the suspect went into hiding and switched off his phone until on the 30/6/2024 when he was arrested with the support of Namutumba Police.
On Monday while in court, the suspect pleaded not guilty before being denied bail.
Idhube Baziriyo joins other 3 other Namutumba PDM SACCO leaders including the one who is a local council chairman who were arrested on charges of extortion.
The accused included Ndinywa Gideon who is Chairperson of Kibigo Bugobi PDM SACCO, Namambwe Annet who acts as a Publicity Secretary of Kibigo Bugobi PDM SACCO and finally Jemera James a Chairman LC1 of Kalitumba Village.
According to state house Anti-corruption operatives, the three and other Sacco Leaders on the run have been extorting money from PDM beneficiaries in pretext that they are helping them to open up bank accounts and also to access the PDM revolving fund, these were remanded until 10th July 2024 .
