Members of Parliament on the Public Service and Local Government Committee expressed concern about the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in the Karamoja sub-region. They voiced their worries during a meeting with district leaders from Karenga, Kole, Napak, and Otuke districts on Monday, October 23, 2023.
According to the Committee Chairperson, Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the implementation of the PDM in the Karamoja sub-region is currently at 15 percent, as reported by area MPs who conducted field assessments in their respective constituencies.
Mapenduzi stated, “This is very worrying. Karamoja received funds that are currently in SACCO accounts, but the beneficiaries are unable to access them.”
The report compiled by the area MPs during their field assessments identified several challenges, including difficulties in accessing banking services and fulfilling administrative requirements.
“In a district like Karenga, individuals must travel all the way to Moroto to access banking services, covering over 140 kilometers, which seriously hampers the program’s implementation,” Mapenduzi added.
Charles Uma, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Karenga district, acknowledged that he had recently assumed his position after moving from Nakasongola district. He attributed the slow progress in the district to administrative shortcomings.
Uma addressed Mapenduzi’s concerns regarding the involvement of only four out of the 37 wards in Karenga district, explaining that this focused approach was intended to ensure success in a smaller area before expanding further.
Hon. Paul Omara raised concerns about authorities who oversee fund disbursements for PDM activities, stating that they were charging beneficiaries a percentage to activate their accounts.
“They are deducting a portion of this money as part of their allowances. They claim that they lack the funds needed to carry out activities, so beneficiaries have to contribute money for administrative purposes,” Omara remarked.
Hon. Philiphs Lokwang Ilukol criticized PDM authorities for their failure to educate the public about the purpose of the funds disbursed under the program.
“In my area, I asked the youth about the PDM funds, and they told me they saw it as a gift from the president or some form of personal spending money,” Ilukol noted.
Hon. Ben Baatom highlighted internet connectivity as a significant challenge that needs to be addressed to support activities such as data entry.
“If the issue of connectivity is not resolved, it means that no matter how much effort they put in, beneficiaries will require significant funds to access areas with a reliable network to process their payments,” Baatom emphasized.
John Bosco Okello, the PDM focal person in Karenga district, stressed the need for telecom companies to enhance internet connectivity and called for support in procuring laptops and printers at the sub-county level to facilitate the organization and printing of payment vouchers for beneficiaries.
