Misuse of PDM funds worries Acholi leaders

GULU – Leaders in Acholi Sub-region are worried that the recently disbursed Parish Development Model [ PDM ] funds will leave the targeted beneficiaries still poor because they have spent the money on consumption rather than commercial production.

In the last financial year 2022/2023, government began disbursing Shs 100 million to each of the 10,594 parishes under the PDM, targeting to bring 39 percent poor population into the money economy through commercial farming.

However, the Members of Parliament from the Acholi Sub-region say some of the PDM beneficiaries who received the money in the last three months have spent it on alcohol and women. Each of the beneficiaries, it is said, received Shs 1mln from the government to engage in income generating activities they presented before the money was given to them.

Amos Okot John, the Agago North MP while speaking on Favour FM in Gulu City days ago, said that the PDM beneficiaries, especially men, have already used the money on consumption instead of production, hoping that they can repay the money to the Parish Revolving fund [PRF] before the 24-month grace period ends.

According to Okot, he has also received concerns from the beneficiaries that banks are withholding some money mostly ranging from Shs 20,000 to Shs 50,000 as bank account service fees.

He said district officials have written to the banks warning them to desist from deducting the money from the account of the beneficiaries.

Betty Aol Ochan, the Gulu City Woman MP said the PDM beneficiaries need continuous training in financial literacy, arguing that the programme’s beneficiaries could be struggling to use the funds meaningfully as some had never held a million shillings in their hands before.

According to Aol, although there are beneficiaries who are properly utilising the PDM funds, others are getting involved in extra marital affairs, drinking alcohol, with the mindset that government money is meant for eating.

“In other areas within Gulu City, people are saying this money is from NRM, that’s why people are reluctant to invest it, which is wrong, the money is for the taxpayers and meant to improve the livelihoods of the poor Ugandans,” Aol said.

However, Christopher Opio Ateker, the Gulu district LCV chairperson said that the PDM beneficiaries in his district are utilising the money for the purpose they requested it for, adding that already there are people who have begun the journey of commercial production aimed at improving the welfare of their families.

The PDM was launched in February 2022, and government and in the last financial year earmarked Shs over Shs 1 trillion for the programme. Each of the 10,594 parishes in the country is expected to receive Shs 100mln every financial year for five years for investment in enterprises such as coffee, bananas, dairy, fish farming, piggery, beekeeping, poultry, and grains among several others.

The programme follows programmes like Entandikwa, Prosperity for All, Plan for Modernisation [PMA] of Agriculture, Operation Wealth Creation [OWC], National Agricultural Advisory Services [NAADS], which have delivered less than expected results due to mismanagement.

https://thecooperator.news/apac-pdm-sacco-leaders-arrested-over-missing-funds/

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