Zombo Parish Chief Arrested Over Alleged Misuse of UGX 8 Million

Zombo: A Parish Chief in Zombo District has been arrested over allegations of misappropriating more than UGX 8 million in Parish Development Model (PDM) funds and local revenue.

Stephen Cilican, the Parish Chief of Pasaye Parish in Alangi Sub-County, was arrested on Wednesday, September 29, 2026, at Alangi Health Centre III while attending a scheduled meeting.

His arrest was ordered by the Zombo Resident District Commissioner, Festus Ayikobua.

According to Ayikobua, Cilican is accused of diverting UGX 5 million belonging to five PDM beneficiaries in Warr Town Council, where he previously served.

He is also alleged to have misappropriated more than UGX 1 million in local revenue during his previous assignment at Warr Town Council, and another UGX 3.7 million in local revenue collected after his transfer to Alangi Sub-County.

“We effected the arrest after he embezzled UGX 5 million from Warr Town Council, where he previously served. He is also alleged to have misused more than UGX 1 million in local revenue collected at that station, and a further UGX 3.7 million in local revenue funds collected from Alangi Sub-County,” Ayikobua said.

Ayikobua said the district’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign will not spare public officials implicated in financial misconduct.

He also warned parish chiefs and other public officials against misusing government funds.

Cilican is currently detained at Paidha Central Police Station as police continue with investigations.

The arrest comes amid increased enforcement against alleged misuse of PDM funds in Zombo District.

Earlier, authorities arrested a town agent from Dwonga Ward in Paidha Town Council. In March 2025, two parish chiefs from Alube Parish in Kango Sub-County and Omua Ward in Warr Town Council were also arrested over alleged financial irregularities.

Some of those arrested were later released after refunding the allegedly misappropriated funds.

During a recent PDM stakeholder meeting convened by Zombo District Members of Parliament at the district headquarters, District Production Officer and PDM Focal Point Person Dr. Walter Kumakech raised concerns over alleged extortion of PDM beneficiaries by some parish chiefs and PDM SACCO leaders.

Kumakech said such practices are undermining the effective implementation of the programme.

Since 2022, Zombo District has received UGX 24.8 billion under the PDM, of which UGX 21.6 billion has reportedly been disbursed to 22,263 beneficiaries, representing 51 percent of the district’s target.

Although some beneficiaries have reported positive outcomes from the poverty-alleviation programme, authorities continue to receive complaints of extortion, deletion of beneficiaries’ names from lists and unauthorized substitution of beneficiaries.

District authorities are urging members of the public to report credible information about suspected irregularities in the implementation of the PDM to enable timely investigation and action.

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