HOIMA, July 15, 2024 – The Hoima district security committee has directed the Chief Administrative Officer [CAO], Emmanuel Ssempala to halt the disbursement of Shs 5.5 billion to the Parish Development Model [ PDM ] beneficiaries over mismanagement.
The PDM is a government initiative launched in February 2022, to move 3.5 million households from the subsistence to the money economy. The programme’s beneficiaries receive Shs 1mln each in the form of a soft loan to invest in selected enterprises such as piggery, poultry keeping, fruits growing, and dairy farming among others.
According to the Hoima Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Michael Muramira Kyakashari several legible people have been left out of the programme by the implementers.
He said his office has also received several extortion complaints against the implementers, including parish chiefs, district leaders, and PDM loans committees.
He said the irregularities and mismanagement challenges need to be investigated before the said funds can be released.
He noted that several would-be beneficiaries of the programme allege they are being demanded to pay money ranging from Shs 20,000 to Shs 50,000 to be registered while others are forced to give out the portion of the money received to the implementers of the programme.
Kyakashari added his office has also received reports of local leaders form ghost SACCOs and groups to receive PDM money.
“We have agreed to halt the disbursement of PDM funds because people have complained enough. You expect a parish like Hanga to get Shs 100 million but when you go on the ground the money is not there and this means the money is going to individuals’ pockets,” he said.
He vowed to arrest all the culprits involved in the mismanagement of the funds, adding that last month they arrested the village chairperson whom he did not identify for extorting the beneficiaries.
Hellen Mulumba, Hoima district LCV Vice-chairperson, welcomed the idea of withholding the PDM funds, adding as district authorities they will conduct a verification exercise of all beneficiaries in the district before more funds are released.
“This is a seed capital for the poor people to go and to make money, but surprisingly our people are not benefiting so as leaders we come in to intervene to ensure that the programs serve their intended purpose,” she said.
Meanwhile, Patrick Rusoke the district councilor for Buraru Sub-county is allegedly on the run after police summoned him over an allegation of getting involved in the misappropriation of Emyooga funds.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-beneficiary-in-gulu-loses-chicken-to-thieves-poisoning/
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