President Museveni has directed State House Anti Corruption operatives to investigate and arrest all public servants engaged in theft of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in Acholi Sub region.
While meeting with a group of local leaders from Acholi sub region on Wednesday, the President expressed disappointment with the civil servants accused of taking advantage of the PDM program for selfish gain.
The group led by the Gulu Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Jane Francis Amongin Okili met the president to follow up on complaints made in February, 2023.
The President said that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government will penalize all those involved in messing up a project meant to get people out of poverty. He warned that those misappropriating PDM money, are stupid and will be arrested.
Museveni directed Brig Gen Henry Isoke, the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate how SACCOs are being formed to benefit the locals.
“Brig Isoke, you should check with the PDM secretariat about the instructions given in forming the Parish SACCOs. What are they telling the people so that you compare with what is on ground. Also check this report of the extension workers,” H.E Museveni said.
This development comes just days after the president vowed to bring to book all civil servants in the region for misappropriation of PDM funds.
During a special parliament sitting at the Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday last week, the President noted visible descrepencies in the distribution of the monies. He explained that much as every parish was supposed to receive 17 million shillings, some parishes only received 10 million while others got only 6 million. He cited the Acholi sub-region where he has received complaints from locals of embezzlement.
” Each parish was supposed to get 17 million but some got 7 while others got 10, so where did all the other money go? Uganda is here we shall get you. The wanaichi told me of the parasites that were like flies swarming around the PDM and Emyooga money. I will decisively follow up the attemped stealing and they will pay for that treachery they will be an example to the rest” he said then
The President said that while touring the Acholi region in February, aggrieved individuals seeking to benefit from the PDM complained about public servants who secretly form PDM leadership to fleece intending beneficiaries. Museveni said he was told of leaders who are frustrating the program.
According to the President, in the Financial Year 2021/2022, the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development released up to 131.4 billion Shillings to facilitate PDM but the funds have been misappropriated and largely remain unaccounted for.
Museveni further pointed out that 476.9 billion Shillings remain pending in the treasury yet to be sent to the different village Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies;SACCOs.
By June 2023,the Government expects to disburse tothe SACCOs 1,059 trillion Shillings.
As of now, available statistics by the Ministry of Finance indicate that only 9,538 out of 10,594 PDM-SACCOs have been formed across the country, indicating a 90 percent
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