By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
Tension and confusion marred the disbursement of the Parish Development Model (PDM) Funds in Kabale district on Thursday , as beneficiaries from Kabale municipality were conspicuously absent from the initial list.
The PDM initiative, introduced by the Government of Uganda, aims to alleviate poverty by transitioning the 39% of the population still reliant on subsistence farming into the money economy.
Kabale district has faced scrutiny for its failure to distribute the allocated funds, even three years after the program’s launch. The disbursement event took place at Kabale municipal stadium, with Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, representing the chief guest, David Bahati, the state minister for Trade, Industries, and Cooperatives.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the stadium, eagerly awaiting confirmation messages that they would benefit from the program on its first day of disbursement. As the guest of honor invited the initial beneficiaries to step forward for the official launch, murmurs of discontent arose from the crowd. Residents from Kabale municipality accused the PDM leadership in the area of overlooking their inclusion in the program, citing inconsistencies in the exercise.
Sentaro Byamugisha, the Mayor of Kabale municipality, joined the residents in demanding an explanation for their exclusion from the program. Authorities then directed the concerned individuals to follow up with the relevant banks to ensure their funds would be deposited.
“In light of these issues, we demand a clear explanation for our exclusion from the PDM program,” Mayor Byamugisha voiced his concerns alongside the residents.
Nyakahuma acknowledged that the preparation for the event was lacking and that technical staff within the district and municipality were responsible for the oversight. He expressed his disappointment at the embarrassing situation.
“We admit that there were lapses in the preparation, and we take responsibility for the oversight that resulted in the exclusion of beneficiaries from Kabale municipality,” stated Nyakahuma, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused.
By press time, authorities had promptly contacted the various commercial banks to rectify the issue that led to this challenge. Residents anxiously awaited confirmation messages regarding the receipt of their funding.
The incident shed light on the need for improved coordination and accountability in the implementation of government programs. Efforts were underway to rectify the oversight and ensure the equitable distribution of funds to all eligible beneficiaries.
