Kibuku residents worried over inadequate PDM funds

KIBUKU-Residents of Kibuku district have expressed concern over the money to be given to groups under the Parish Development Model, saying it is very little.

In interviews with several residents in the district, as well as would-be beneficiaries and officials, they called for a policy to be put in place to guide the implementation of the PDM so that all those targeted benefit.

The residents who spoke to this reporter recently said most people might be left due to insufficient funds.

The revolving money of Shs 100 million for each parish per year, is to be channeled through PDM SACCOs with the help of Parish chiefs.

Moses Okoth, a resident, said parish chiefs and chairpersons are unlikely to superintend disbursement and accountability for government funds since they don’t have financial management skills.

“The people handling the program at parish level are not educated. I don’t see any miracles in this program. How do you expect a person who is not educated to account for this money,” Okoth said.

The Programme launched under the theme “transformation from subsistence to money economy through increased production for sustainable household income and livelihood,” has seven pillars, including financial inclusion that will see each of the 10594 parishes get the money.

Robert Nakoro, the LC1 Chairperson, Namawondo village in Kibuku town council, said the money is too little compared to the number of group members.

“We have hope in this program but the money is too little. It’s good because we are getting money directly but we request the government to allow the beneficiaries to choose the enterprises,” Nakoro said.

He said that instead of the government limiting them to certain enterprises they want to use the money in any business.

Nakoro said the program will only help people fight poverty among themselves in case the government increases funds.

According to him a SACCO in his village received about Shs 17mln which is too little compared to the number of group members.

He said although the PDM has good guidelines government should put more money into the programme.

He said some of the good projects such as the irrigation scheme are too expensive.

Michael Kokolu, the Chairperson Namawondo PDM Sacco, said the group has 158 households.

“The money we are getting is not enough to even construct a fish pond. PDM is not like the previous government. We are getting money directly to the grassroots to benefit people and we are controlling the money at the parish level ourselves,” said Kokolu.

Zabujja Nabulumba, a member of the SACCO,said they want to engage in fish farming but the money is not enough.

“To construct a fish pond, one needs a lot of money,” she says.

She further blamed the collapse of other previous programmes on corruption, discrimination by some leaders.

“The previous programmes only benefited a few individuals due to discrimination and corruption,” she said.

Amuza Basalirwa, a resident, said all the community members should be involved in the mobilisation and implementation of the PDM programme.

“We are worried that some of us not involved, the parish chiefs and other leaders will sideline us during implementation,” Basalirwa said.

He said in the previous programme leaders have been sharing among themselves.

Sheikh Ali Nabaizelemu, a resident, said the government has tried to fight poverty in the country but corruption among leaders has killed everything.

He said PDM in Kibuku district is most likely to perform poorly like Naads, Emyooga and other failed government programmes.

“PDM will collapse due to various factors including corruption and little money. They want us to pay the interest. How do you expect a peasant to pay that interest,” he said.

He said the government should supervise and monitor this programme with a keen eye.

Abdu Sodo Musa,68, said the previous government’s poverty alleviation programmes collapsed due to poor policies, sensitisation, monitoring, and supervision.

“The money in previous programs were mismanaged by district officials in various districts including poor monitoring, inadequate sensitisation and theft of funds are hampering implementation of government programs in most parts of the country,” Sodo said.

He said other programmes have failed due to a lack of coordination between the civil servants and political leadership.

“The mismanagement is carried out through exploitation of the beneficiary’s ignorance, inflated costs on the technology and enterprises and distribution of poor-quality seeds to the farmers. The officials who are supposed to spearhead the execution of the programs have not performed to the beneficiary’s expectations, ”he said.

He said there is a need for an audit into the disbursement of funds right from the Ministry of Finance to the district, and parishes.

According to him, previous programmes were for relatives and friends of district officials.

Recently, Kibuku District Community Development Officer [DCDO], Grace Negesa, said the programme is targeted at parish level.

“This programme is at parish level focusing on agriculture-based enterprise while other government programs like Emyooga focuses on saloons, Journalists and it was handled at the district level,” she said.

She said although the money is little, people should start saving to increase their capital.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-says-some-parishes-will-receive-more-pdm-cash-than-others/

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