Computer illiteracy delays disbursement of PDM funds in Nakapiripirit

Nakapiririt, (UG): Nakapiripirit district is grappling with the challenge of disbursing funds allocated for the Parish Development Model (PDM) due to a lack of computer skills necessary to manage the system.

In July, the district received UGX 3.5 billion for the operationalization of the PDM program. However, to date, only sh39.9 million, which amounts to just 1 per cent of the allocated funds, have been disbursed during its launch.

Michael Ayepa, the Karamoja regional coordinator for the Parish Development Model revealed that the district has managed to disburse money to only two parishes since the program’s inception in July 2023.

The district’s technical team has struggled to disburse the funds as they are unfamiliar with the computer system required to track the beneficiaries.

Ayepa expressed his frustration, blaming civil servants for negligence, which has led to the failure to conduct PDM activities and resulted in millions of shillings lying idle without reaching the intended parishes.

He also noted that the district officials have been uncooperative in providing him with progress reports. While the PDM program runs smoothly in other districts of Nakapiripirit and Kaabong, they have encountered difficulties in its implementation.

Esther Anyakun, the woman member of parliament for Nakapiripirit district and State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees expressed her concern over the delay in disbursing funds at a time when communities are in dire need of financial support.

She emphasized that many families are struggling with poverty, and the PDM program could be a lifeline for them if they can use the funds to start businesses. She called on the government to minimize bureaucracy when responding to challenges in disaster-prone areas.

Raphael Magezi, the Minister for Local Government, who recently visited the region to monitor the implementation of the Give Directly Grant Cash program in Nakapiripirit, issued an ultimatum to district officials. 

He instructed them to disburse the PDM funds within one month, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing 100 million shillings to every parish.

Magezi urged the Chief Administrative Officer, who is relatively new to the position, to work closely with the PDM Coordinator to ensure the funds reach the beneficiaries by the end of September this year.

Meanwhile, in the Nabilatuk district, Parish Development SACCO members received less money than the one million shillings entitled to every household.

Sylvia Awas, the woman Member of Parliament for Nabilatuk district, explained that beneficiaries received less because their SACCO plans couldn’t raise the required amount.

Awas encouraged SACCO members to consider selecting more lucrative enterprises to generate more income and make progress. She disclosed that over 400 million shillings have been disbursed to beneficiaries across the district.