By Eumu Emmanuel
Lira SACCO Boss Sarah Atim has been sentenced to one year, eleven months, and three weeks in prison for mismanaging Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in Lira District. Atim, the Chairperson of Ipito Aweno PDM SACCO, was found guilty of obtaining millions of shillings from thousands of PDM beneficiaries under false pretenses ¹.
Atim exploited her position to extort money from vulnerable members of various PDM groups, promising expedited access to their government-issued funds. However, investigations revealed that she had no mandate to oversee the online registration process for PDM groups and instead used her influence to solicit illegal payments.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions collaborated on the investigation. Atim was arraigned before the Lira Chief Magistrates Court on June 10, 2024, on charges of Obtaining Money by False Pretense.
The court proceedings established that Atim had collected funds from group leaders, falsely claiming her role in the registration and facilitation process for PDM funds. The evidence presented demonstrated a calculated scheme that defrauded numerous SACCO members, undermining trust in the PDM initiative.
Atim’s actions not only breached public trust but also jeopardized the success of a government program intended to uplift marginalized communities. She will serve her sentence at Lira Government Prisons.