On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the Kitgum District Local Government announced the introduction of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and made a plea for inclusion in the midst of the ongoing recovery of sh230m.

The sh230m was a portion of the sh526m that Kitgum received previously but did not use in accordance with PDM guidelines.

Joveline Kalisa, the Ministry of Local Government’s deputy national coordinator for PDM, recently stopped the distribution of funding after finding a number of inconsistencies with the program.

Beneficiaries

Kitgum received sh7.147 billion, which will support 1,436 groups, with nearly 10,000 people from the district’s 72 parishes.

Kitgum district chairperson Christopher Obol praised President Yoweri Museveni for establishing the program during the launch on Tuesday at Namokora town council.

He stated that the PDM will assist the poor in moving out of poverty. However, Obol stated that the program confronts obstacles, such as persons who entered incorrect information, resulting in some people missing out.

“We are going to work with the relevant authorities to ensure that all of the targeted people benefit from the initiative,” he stated.

According to Alex Opira, the PDM focal point person for Kitgum, despite the fact that there are various irregularities in the PDM program, recipients in Kitgum have reason to grin as the Government initiated the long-awaited payment of monies.

Disbursement 

Jimmy Ebil, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, stated that shroom had been distributed to 58 groups and sh80 million to 14 groups from the sh7.147 billion.

He stated that the remaining sh20 million from the 14 groups is for persons who are having difficulty applying for the funds. Meanwhile, Chua East MP Margret Odwar claimed that PDM funding are intended to benefit 30% of Ugandans who are not part of the money economy. She stated that the funds should be put in lucrative businesses that will enable them multiply the initial capital provided to them.