Hoima district resumes disbursement of PDM funds

HOIMA, October 28, 2024 — Hoima district authorities have resumed disbursing Parish Development Model [PDM] funds to beneficiaries.

Launched in February 2022, the PDM is a government initiative aimed at transitioning 3.5 million households from subsistence to a cash-based economy. Beneficiaries receive Shs 1mln each as a soft loan to invest in selected enterprises such as piggery, poultry keeping, fruit growing, and dairy farming.

Earlier this year, Hoima district security committee ordered Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel Ssempala to halt fund disbursement due to complaints of extortion against the implementers of the programme. Beneficiaries reported being asked for fees ranging from Shs 20,000 to Shs 50,000 for registration, while others were pressured to hand over portions of their funds to local leaders. There were also allegations of ghost SACCOs and groups formed to receive funds.

In an interview, Hoima Deputy Resident District Commissioner Michael Muramira Kyakashari stated that these irregularities were investigated before the decision to resume fund disbursement. He confirmed that most issues have been addressed, and the district is now accepting applications for funds.

Kyakashari noted that the district received Shs 11.3 billion and has disbursed 73 percent of these funds to beneficiaries of the PDM.

However, he explained that the delay in disbursing the remaining funds was due to the transition from the old system to Wendi, a digital wallet that enables PDM beneficiaries to access their funds from any location. He assured that this issue has been resolved, and the remaining funds will soon be transferred from the SACCO accounts to beneficiaries.

“PDM is progressing well; the transition to Wendi caused some delays in fund access, but we are working to distribute the remaining funds. Previously, complaints about parish chiefs charging fees have been addressed,” he said.

Regarding the Emyooga programme, Kyakashari indicated that it is performing well, with some associations repaying their loans. The district has cumulatively disbursed Shs 1.9 billion through Emyooga, with group members saving Shs 260 million. The best-performing SACCOs can apply for additional funding of up to Shs 20 million each.

Jane Atim, a resident of Bombo Sub-county, expressed concern that the delayed disbursement of PDM funds has adversely affected locals, who missed planting opportunities in both the first and second rainy seasons.

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