Over 1,320 residents in Ntungamo District have benefited from the Parish Development Model (PDM) flexible financing program.
The seven-pronged PDM is a poverty alleviation program that aims to lift the 39 percent of Ugandans who are currently living in poverty into the mainstream market economy over the course of five years.
The money began being distributed last Thursday, and on Monday, the project was officially launched at the Ntungamo District offices. Those in need have reportedly received at least Shs1.32 billion from the government.
According to Mr. Ambrose Tusiime, the Ntungamo District community development officer, the recipients were chosen from among more than 230 parishes in 34 sub-counties and town councils, and the funds were placed into their bank accounts.
“The money is going directly to the beneficiaries. The district officials are simply meant to verify that the right beneficiaries get the money. We do beneficiary selection and verification and send the data to the ministry that orders for payment from the different commercial banks. Each of the beneficiaries is given Shs1 million,” Mr Tusiime said.
Yesterday, at the opening of the program, the deputy RDC, Mr. Robert Kamuntu, spoke out against corruption among the those who implement PDM.
Some residents of Ntungamo’s 1,015 communities have complained that there is not enough PDM money to go around.
Mr. Tusiime, however, emphasized that the communities should be grateful for the government’s efforts despite its limited means.
He also said that the first phase of the program would help more than 7,000 households in the district.
