RDC Order for Arrest of Parish Chief for Alleged Money Extortion Worth 2.5m from PDM Groups

Pader District Resident Commissioner Mr. Milton Odongo on Thursday 30st June 2022 ordered for immediate arrest of One Akot Grace, the Parish Chief of Wigweng Parish in Acholibur sub-county, Pader district for allegedly extorting Money totaling to 2.5million shillings from various parish development groups (PDM) to a tune of 100,000 shillings each for group registration in her office.

Odongo Milton the RDC Pader District made this statement while addressing the district stakeholders during the training on the PDM held at the District Headquarters in the District Council Hall.

This came after Acholibur Sub County Councilor V, Mr. Godwin Wokorach raised the concern in the meeting.

Mr. Wokorach alleged that Akot Grace the Parish Chief of Wigweng Parish Chief demands up to one hundred thousand shilling thirty thousand for Certificate and seventy thousand for making a constitution for each group from the five parishes in Acholibur sub-county.

Meanwhile, Simon Okot, the chairperson of group Paco Ber cotton farmers in Teyaa village, Wigweng parish, Acholibur sub-county in Pader district said that the accused parish chief rejected their drafted constitution many times upon payment of 30,000 for registration of the certificate.

In an investigation carried out by our reporter, Grace Akot, the Wigweng parish chief was demanding the group pay 70,000 for a constitution. She further accepted the plea of the chairperson to give any amount of money after the chairperson said they do not have the 70,000 cash, and should give her the money secretly to avoid interruption from the group members.

However, when interviewed, Akot defended herself by claiming that the 30,000 she was collecting was meant for certificate registration, and the 70,000 was her money for drafting the various group’s constitutions upon negotiation.

Mr. Odongo directed the district criminal investigative department to immediately carry out an investigation into the alleged scandal and arrest the culprits because they are tarnishing the government's image before the general public.

Hon. Henry Okello Oryem, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who was delegated to supervise the Parish Development Model in Pader and Agago District, backed up the leaders to arrest the corrupt Parish Chiefs and Community Development Officers