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SOROTI — A Community Development Officer in Soroti City has been interdicted from duty pending the outcome of a fraud case in which she is accused of extorting money from Parish Development Model beneficiaries.
Alajo Hellen, the CDO for Kengere Ward in Soroti City East Division, was interdicted this week by Soroti City authorities after she was formally charged before the Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court with obtaining money by false pretence. The interdiction, effected under Public Service Standing Orders, means she will remain off duty on half pay until the criminal case is concluded.
Her arrest and arraignment were carried out by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Prosecutors allege that Alajo, while serving as CDO, extorted money from more than 121 PDM beneficiaries in Soroti City East Division. She reportedly told the beneficiaries that payments were required for group registration, renewal of group certificates, and stationery.
It is further alleged that after each beneficiary received their Shs1,000,000 under the government wealth-creation programme, the accused demanded additional sums ranging from Shs10,000 to Shs50,000 per person. She claimed the funds would facilitate community-based trainers and enable the beneficiaries to access more money in the next financial year — claims investigators say were false.
SHACU said statements from victims and documentary evidence link the officer to the collections. The ODPP told court that inquiries are ongoing to establish whether other officials were involved in the scheme.
Alajo denied the charges. The Chief Magistrate remanded her until April 27, 2026, as investigations continue.
If convicted of obtaining money by false pretence under Section 305 of the Penal Code Act, she faces up to five years imprisonment.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has repeatedly warned that PDM registration and access to funds are free of charge, and that no public officer is authorised to levy fees on beneficiaries.
Soroti Resident City Commissioner Peter Pex Paak said the interdiction was to “protect the integrity of public service” and allow uninterrupted court proceedings. He urged PDM beneficiaries to report any demands for payment directly to the RDC’s office or SHACU.
The case is among several that anti-graft agencies are pursuing in Teso sub-region to curb leakages in the Parish Development Model, which has disbursed billions of shillings to parish SACCOs countrywide.
Related
, https://pmldaily.com/news/2026/04/soroti-cdo-interdicted-over-pdm-fraud-as-court-case-proceeds.html
