GULU City, August 28, 2024 – Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among has called on local government officials in the country to provide a detailed account of the funds disbursed under the Parish Development Model [ PDM ]. Her call comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of funds intended to alleviate poverty among poor households.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Omoro district and Gulu City yesterday, ahead of the regional Parliament sitting in Gulu City, Among emphasised that while government aims to lift Ugandans out of poverty through the PDM, it is a requirement to ensure accountability for the funds allocated to each district and city under the programme.
On Tuesday, Among visited Ayomlony village in Omoro district to a lay a wreath on the grave of her predecessor, the late Jacob Oulanyah, and urged the local community to leverage the PDM to improve their livelihoods.
During a meeting with Catholic bishops at the Gulu Archdiocese, Among encouraged the churches to mobilise their congregations to take advantage of various government projects.
Retired Archbishop John Baptist Odama expressed concern over the persistent high poverty levels in the Acholi Subregion, which he said hinder social and economic recovery. “The 70 percent poverty rate here is unbearable. Some families go hungry, and others struggle to afford education for their children,” Odama remarked.
New Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Rapheal P’ Mony Wokorach also called on the government to implement holistic programmes to address poverty in Northern Uganda.
Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwonga urged the Speaker to support urban authorities with timely fund appropriations to address human resource gaps. He praised the PDM for improving rural livelihoods, noting that it has provided income opportunities through various projects.
Similarly, Charles Canomiya, LCI Chairperson of Pece Pawel Central in Gulu City, commended the PDM initiative. He highlighted that before the programme, money lenders exploited women’s vulnerabilities by charging high interest rates on microloans.
The PDM was launched in February 2022, to move 3.5 million households from the subsistence to the money economy, with government providing funds [Shs 1 million] to each beneficiary to invest in selected enterprises such as dairy farming, fish farming, piggery, coffee, bananas, and fruit growing among others.
https://thecooperator.news/parliament-committed-to-working-with-the-church-says-among/
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