GULU-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: The State House Anti-Corruption Unit Head, announced Thursday it had launched investigations into theft and mismanagement of the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
A statement released by the unit said its head Brig Gen Henry Isokehad camped in Acholi Sub region following a directive from H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to the Unit, to investigate allegations of extortion and mismanagement of funds meant for the Parish Development Model (PDM) in the Acholi Sub region.
The investigative tour comes days after a section of local leaders from the Acholi sub region met the President at State House to follow up on complaints regarding the PDM funds. Brig Isoke hopes to cover other parts of the sub region including Amuru, Omoro and Nwoya districts.
Brig Gen Henry Isoke commenced the tour on Monday March 27, 2023 in Gulu District where he held several meetings with the City & district leadership and District Security Heads led by the Regional Police Commander (RPC). He later met community representatives who aired out their grievances and complaints about the implementation of PDM in their parishes.
On Tuesday, 28 March 2023, Brig Gen Henry Isoke continued his investigative tour in the sub region with an open community engagement in Unyama Sub County, Gulu District where the Wanainchi raised a red flag on management of the PDM.
Managers of the Program are reportedly extorting money ranging between Shs 5000 to 10,000 purportedly to cover photocopying and other administrative expenses. while there are also reported delays in release of fund.
“There are also illegal charges in the creation of SACCO accounts while Family, friends and relatives of officials are taking priority consideration for registration,” the statement reads.
It added that there were demands by officials that require beneficiaries to give a percentage of the money to them before being considered for registration.
But during the interface with beneficiaries, Brig Gen Isoke assured the community that the Unit would investigate all their issues and find out the reasons behind the delayed release of funds to the beneficiaries, despite the funds already being posted in the SACCO parish accounts.
The Parish Development Model was launched by H.E President Yoweri Museveni in February 2022 as one of the initiatives to uplift those in subsistence economy to join the money economy.
The Ministry of Finance has so far released Shs 264B for PDM activities and at least 8,931 parishes received money and are already implementing the program. The mismanagement of these funds if not addressed will hinder the intended socio-economic transformation. The investigations a
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