MASINDI, October 12, 2023 – Florence Asiimwe, the Masindi district Woman Member of Parliament has faulted two staff of the local government for frustrating her oversight role, saying they have denied her adequate information needed for her oversight role.
Speaking to this reporter recently, Asiimwe noted that during the recent House recess, she was supposed to monitor the implementation of government programmes in Masindi district, such as the Parish Development Model [PDM], but her efforts to get information were frustrated.
She faulted the Acting District Production Officer who is also the PDM Focal Person, Fred Ssebuguzi, and the District Commercial Officer, Moses Kalyegira for failing to provide her with data on the PDM implementation.
“We ask for this information because we want to know whether there’s value for money but I have tried to obtain the information regarding PDM implementation in vain. I wanted to know the number of the beneficiaries, their location, amount of money received and the enterprises among others,” said Asiimwe.
The MP added; “Up to now I haven’t got the Information. What I have got from the politicians is scanty because it’s just summerised. The production officer says he has no information he refers you to the commercial officer who in turn also refers you to the production officer. Why do you fool me?”
The legislator noted that there’s lack of transparency amongst the civil servants of Masindi district local government which is bringing a lot of suspicion.
She called an investigation to be carried out at the district, saying that some PDM beneficiaries are complaining of receiving less money. According to the PDM guidelines, each PDM beneficiary is supposed to get Shs 1 million.
“As a researcher, I cannot work without data. You cannot present anything in parliament without data. I want data on the implementation of PDM, Youth Livelihood Programme, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme and Emyooga Programme,” she noted.
On the other hand, MP Asiimwe appreciated Masindi Municipality leaders and the technical staff for being transparent, saying they easily provided the PDM implementation information she needed from them.
Under Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the MPs are mandated to carry out oversight of all the government programmes undertaken in their constituencies all over the country.
Moses Kirya, the Masindi District Council Speaker also confirmed lack of transparency amongst a section of civil servants and the politicians.
The duo which is being accused of concealing information never attended the council meeting.
This reporter was unable to reach Ssebuguzi and Kalyegira for comments as their known telephone numbers went unanswered.
However, while giving the State of the District Address recently, Cosmas Byaruhanga the Masindi district LCV chairperson noted that to date, a sum of Shs 4.9b has been received under PDM, adding that Shs 3.3b has been disbursed to 3,317 households.
The PDM, launched in February 2022, aims at moving 3.5mln households from the subsistence economy to the money economy, with parishes receiving Shs 100mln every financial year for the targeted beneficiaries engaged in the agricultural value chain.
The beneficiaries are supposed to invest the money received to engage in growing coffee, macadamia, bananas, grains, passion fruits, fish farming, dairy farming, poultry keeping, piggery, and beekeeping among others.
https://thecooperator.news/lack-of-computer-knowledge-delays-pdm-funds-disbursement-in-alebtong/
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