Residents of Nalweyo Subcounty in Uganda are crying foul after reports emerged that local leaders are illegally demanding bribes to authorize loan applications under the Parish Development Model (PDM) program. Investigation has uncovered a deeply entrenched system where aspiring beneficiaries are forced to pay a mandatory fee of UGX 30,000 ($8) per application, a practice that experts call extortion and a violation of the program’s intended purpose.  

According to multiple sources, applicants who fail to pay the illegal fees have their applications withheld, effectively locking them out of accessing government funds meant to uplift small enterprises. Some of these applicants, desperate to secure the funds, are even resorting to selling personal belongings, such as bicycles, to raise the bribe money.  

“I had already filled out my forms, and everything was in order,” said a 60-year-old applicant, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. “But when I submitted it, I was told I had to pay UGX 30,000 first. I don’t have that kind of money lying around, so now I’m considering selling my bicycle. If I don’t, my application will be retained.”  

Another PDM member, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the bribe was a non-negotiable requirement.  

“They told me straight up—no money, no approval,” he said. “I’m expecting money on Sunday, so meaning I will be out of this.”  

Documents reviewed by this publication show that tens of applications were retained simply because their owners failed to pay the illegal fee. Some members who had already paid the official UGX 5,000 application fee were shocked to learn they had to pay an additional UGX 30,000.  

One board member of a PDM enterprise group, when pressed on the legality of the charges, admitted the practice was unlawful.  

“This is illegal,” he stated. “Imagine they pay UGX 5,000 for the application form and still have to pay an additional UGX 30,000. All that for what? Remember, there is no government program that is not fully facilitated.”  

Despite this admission, applicants remain hesitant to come forward publicly, fearing retribution or withdrawal of their applications.  

The PDM initiative, launched by the Ugandan government, was intended to provide financial support to grassroots enterprises as part of a national poverty alleviation strategy. However, in Nalweyo Subcounty, the program appears to have been hijacked by unscrupulous leaders who have turned it into a pay-to-play scheme.  

Multiple sources confirmed that the illegal payments are being enforced by a section of local officials who use their positions to manipulate the process.  

“There are names of individuals who are making sure only those who pay get access,” a reliable source disclosed. “This is a government program meant to uplift the poor, but ironically, it is the poor who are suffering the most because of corruption.”  

“This is precisely why Uganda continues to struggle with corruption,” said a local anti-corruption activist. “We have well-meaning programs, but they get hijacked by people who see them as personal business ventures. The government needs to intervene immediately and bring those responsible to justice.”  

This publication has obtained exclusive video footage showing a PDM member discreetly handing UGX 30,000 to a secretary, who quickly accepts the money before proceeding to process the applicant’s file. In the same footage, other applicants are seen placing cash on top of their application forms, an unspoken requirement for fast-tracking their approval.

“This is how it works here,” one member, recorded, tells a colleague. “If you don’t pay, your file will sit there for weeks—maybe even months.”

The footage further confirms allegations that bribe payments are an organized and well-known practice among local leaders overseeing the disbursement of PDM funds

Attempts to get official responses from the Nalweyo Subcounty leadership were futile, as phones went unanswered and most officials declined to comment on the allegations.

With the scandal now exposed and video evidence confirming the corruption, affected members are hoping for swift action from authorities to end the exploitatio