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By Samuel Onen
At least 46 SACCOs out of 49 have successfully received shs17m each under the Parish Development model (PDM).
This development was confirmed to Karamojanews on Monday September 5, 2022 by the Lira city Mayor, Sam Atul, in an interview from his office.
Atul said seventeen million shilling (Shs17m) was remitted to each group’s account respectively and they can confirm with the Bank.
“We are happy and would wish to assure the other group of the three groups that money shall be remitted in their accounts by the central government,” the Mayor said.
Anyayo Betty Okello, 29, from Anai Ober in Lira city west said with Shs17m in their SACCO account, the dream for development by the government is closer to being achieved. She called for thorough accountability of the funds per SACCO so that the projects are achieved.
Other beneficiaries said all the remaining three groups should also be considered so that every SACCO gets at least some funding for the betterment of Lira city residents who are eager to improve their household incomes.
However, the Lira resident City Commissioner, Lawrence Emmy Egole, sounded a strong warning to political leaders against politicizing PDM like they did with Emyooga program.
He said such interference makes it very difficult for the technical teams to freely perform their duties.
As more SACCOs across the country start to receive the PDM funds, it should be noted that some district officials have reportedly misappropriated the funds and have either fled, been arrested or are being hunted for by the police.
A week ago, Kitgum RDC, William Komakech, was interdicted on the orders of the Minister for presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda over alleged misused of Shs523m after allegedly conniving with 14 technical staff of Kitgum district.
The government of Uganda has registered a total of 8,267 SACCOs under the Parish Development Model as of July 31, 2022.
The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Amos Lugoloobi, revealed that about 3,914 Sacco’s had not registered by the end of July 2022.
The core aim of PDM is to deepen the decentralisation process; improve household incomes; enable inclusive, sustainable, balanced and equitable socio-economic transformation; and increase accountability at local levels.
The PDM has been designed around seven Pillars; Production, storage, processing and marketing, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services, community mobilization and mindset change, Data collection (Parish based management information system), Governance and administration (one-gov’t approach).
