Museveni sends teams to evaluate PDM program

____________

LUWERO – President Yoweri Museveni has embarked on the process of monitoring Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to eliminate irregularities in the system.

The revelation was made on Monday by the President’s top advisor on political mobilization, Moses Byaruhanga.

He was starting the follow-up process at the Bunnya Foundation Primary School in the Disabled People’s Village of Luwero Town Council in Luwero District.

Senior Presidential Advisor Moses Byaruhanga addresses some of the PDM beneficiaries in Luwero district during a meeting in Luwero town on Monday. (PPU Photos)

Byaruhanga said the NRM government has initiated several programs to benefit Ugandans but some have faced certain hurdles which the government has managed to resolve or hopes to work on.

In 1997, the government introduced the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program and the Universal Secondary Education (USE) program the following year.

“Here, beneficiaries started complaining about the fees charged by school principals,” Byaruhanga said.

“When we questioned the school principals, they replied that they did not have enough teachers, so they subcontracted some teachers who are paid with the money they receive from parents.

Special Presidential Assistant Mariam Namayanja addresses PDM beneficiaries in Luwero district during a meeting in Luwero town on Monday.

“However, the government is still investigating the matter.”

Byaruhanga added: “The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) was established in 2001 to address the constraints of lack of access to information, knowledge and improved technology among poor rural farmers in the country.

“However, the program reached a few people. And on February 26, 2022, the President initiated the PDM as a strategy to improve service delivery and alleviate poverty at the grassroots level. However, there are some challenges that must be resolved.”

President Museveni appointed Hajjat ​​Mariam Namayanja Kiwanuka as special presidential assistant to monitor PDM funds.

Byaruhanga also clarified that the maximum amount of PDM money for a beneficiary is Sh1 million, which will be paid within two years.

For clarity, the money does not return to the government. He remains in the SACCO parish.

From (LR) Moses Byaruhanga, Senior Presidential Adviser, Luwero District RDC Bwabye Richard and DPC during a meeting with PDM beneficiaries in Luwero town on Monday.

Regarding people who waste government resources, Byaruhanga assured that the culprits will be arrested and dealt with according to the laws that govern the country.

The warning came after Luwero District Resident Commissioner Richard Bwabye became concerned about the misconduct of some government officials allegedly involved in soliciting PDM money from beneficiaries.

Bwabye also revealed that he had recovered a total of Sh61 million and was still looking for more culprits to arrest and charge them accordingly.

Meanwhile, on the issue of lenders collecting national identity cards from borrowers as collateral, Byaruhanga directed the Luwero RDC to ensure that lenders return the identity cards to the owners because it is a government property .

He added that the President directed the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, to institute a law that would discourage lenders from using national identity cards as collateral.

On land issues, Byaruhanga urged Luwero politicians to cooperate with residents to address rampant land disputes in the area.

Some of the PDM beneficiaries in Luwero district had their names verified during a meeting with various political leaders in Luwero town on Monday.

During the event, Josephus Walulya Mukasa, PDM coordinator for Luwero sub-county, revealed that they have a total of 1,156 beneficiaries; 551 men and 605 women.

He said that the beneficiaries have prioritized the agricultural sector such as the cultivation of corn, beans, vegetables, coffee, matooke and the raising of cattle, chicken, pigs and goats.

Walubya also pointed out that 70% of the PDM money has been well spent in the sub-county, while the remaining 30% of the money has problems when the beneficiaries directed it towards other things such as paying school fees.

For his part, Hajjat ​​Namayanja Kiwanuka explained that his role is to record the names of all PDM beneficiaries, the amount of money they received, how they use the money and the challenges they face, and subsequently, the President will intervene accordingly.

He also said that the monitoring process has started in Luwero district and will be extended to other parts of the country.

Richard Ssimbwa, LC3 chairman for Luwero sub-county, complained about parish chiefs extorting beneficiaries.

He spoke of some who allegedly replace the names of the true beneficiaries of the system with those who bribed them.

Ssimbwa praised the President for starting the PDM and also for appointing Hajjat ​​Namayanja to oversee the programme.