BUDAKA DISTRICT: The Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuga, has directed investigations into alleged accountability gaps in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Petete Parish, Budaka District.
The directive followed a beneficiary verification exercise conducted by the Minister and a Ministry technical team after the election of the PDM SACCO committee in the parish on Friday yesterday.
During the exercise, beneficiary records were cross-checked with information provided by residents. Concerns emerged over allegations that some individuals’ names and National Identification numbers may have been used to access PDM funds, some beneficiaries received less than their approved entitlements, and funds may have reached persons outside the programme’s intended vulnerable households. Allegations of bribery were also raised.
The Parish Chief and Community Development Officer (CDO) were asked to account for beneficiaries listed in the Ministry records. Some residents reportedly denied receiving PDM funds, while the officials were unable to satisfactorily account for some of the beneficiaries presented for verification.
Hon. Nameere consequently directed that the two officials be detained to facilitate investigations and establish the accountability trail for the funds.
The Minister is expected to return to Petete to continue the verification exercise and determine whether PDM funds reached the intended beneficiaries.
The findings underscore the need for stronger beneficiary verification, accurate record-keeping and robust accountability mechanisms at parish level to safeguard PDM resources and ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries. The Ministry will continue strengthening monitoring and oversight of PDM implementation.