Gulu City’s commercial department has resumed the disbursement of more than three billion Shillings allocated for the Parish Development Model (PDM), following a delay of over four months due to concerns over irregularities and fraud.
Gulu City initially received 3.390 billion Shillings from the PDM Secretariat for the benefit of 32 groups. However, the disbursement was temporarily halted due to reported irregularities, fraud, and a lack of human resources. In late February of this year, beneficiaries from Gulu City raised concerns about the PDM funding process during a meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at Kaunda Grounds.
These concerns ultimately led to the arrest of Nixon Atemo Komakech, the Gulu City PDM Focal Point person and Principal Communication Officer, following the intervention of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. As a result of these accusations and the subsequent interdiction of the Principal Commercial Officer, the disbursement of funds was halted, leaving approximately 3.390 billion shillings unused in the Gulu City PDM account at Post Bank Uganda.
This funding was intended for 32 groups, each consisting of 107 members, with each group slated to receive 107 million Shillings. Jane Francesca Okilli Amongin, the Gulu Resident City Commissioner, explained that the program faced challenges such as inadequate staff, operational funding shortages, and a lack of essential resources like smartphones, laptops, and internet bundles.
Okilli further revealed that the disbursement of PDM funds resumed last week after addressing these issues. By that time, six groups, including Queens, Vanguard, Kirombe, Oitino, Paminano, Kasubi, and Pawel, had been profiled, vetted by village committees, and received their funds.
Catherine Lanyero, who has assumed the role of Commercial Officer in Gulu City, emphasized that due diligence is being undertaken to verify the beneficiaries to ensure that the funds reach the intended recipients.
Paul Ocan, the PDM Secretary for Kanyagoga Parish in Bardege-Layibi division, reported that, as of last week, they had vetted at least 100 out of the 120 individuals meant to benefit from the program.
URN.