By VOM News Team
More than 3000 people who registered for funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Kisoro district have been rejected by the PDM secretariat at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, according to Hajji Shafiq Sekandi.
On the 31st of May 2023, Kisoro District officially launched the disbursement of funds under the Parish Development Model, making it the second district out of six from Kigezi region to embrace the program.
A total of 31 people from Rukundo Town Council (Rukundo North Ward, Rukundo South Ward), Nyakabande and Nyamagana Ward in Kisoro Municipality received money in a colorful function that was graced by Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi as the Guest of Honor at Mugatete Playgrounds, in Rukundo Town Council.
Hajji Sekandi says, the disbursement of funds in the district during the first round did not meet the intended expectations due to errors caused by the Parish Chiefs and town agents did not comply with the PDM guidelines of going down to the ground to verify the information being given by people seeking to be beneficiaries of the PDM funds.
Sekandi says ‘fast movers’ who are in position to earn 10,000 Ugandan shillings and more on a daily basis used the loophole to submit their paperwork as quickly as possible in order to benefit from Government.
These included people working in Civil service, wives of teachers, reverends, politicians and successful businessmen and Women.
“Over 3000 names were rejected by the system upon discovering that some of these people own properties and vehicles. Using Google maps and other intelligence-based methods, we managed to avert a serious loss to Government caused by financially able people trying to steal from the poor”, Sekandi stressed.
According to the PDM guidelines, Pillar III which encompasses a revolving fund Strategy seeks to empower Ugandans who cannot afford to earn 4,000 Ugandan shillings daily.
The interest free loans ranging between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Ugandan Shillings is meant to be used for a period of two years targeting 39% of Ugandans who live below the poverty line of less than 1US dollar daily.
4 billion Shillings unutilized
Sekandi says 4 billion Shillings lays idle on 65 registered PDM Saccos that needs to be disbursed before the end of June 30th, 2023.
Sekandi says all Parish Chiefs, Community Development Officers (CDOs) and Town Agents need to go back to the ground and register people for the Government program as soon as possible.
“Am aware that 15 others have been verified and approved to access their money on June 5th, 2023, however the number is still too small. We need to have more Ugandans who are truly vulnerable being registered to benefit from PDM”, Sekandi said.
Advice
Sekandi said people who deal in selling roasted maize by the roadside, street vendors and those interested in doing agriculture should be the ones who come forward and apply for such money.
“You might have a small piece of land and desire to grow Irish potatoes, but a sack of potato seed is over 500,000 Ugandan shillings including agro- inputs, if you truly wish to develop, apply for the money and change your life”, Sekandi said.
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