MPs Question government’s readiness for Parish Development Model program
By Racheal Nuwahereza
Members of Parliament on the Budget Committee have questioned Government’s preparedness to implement the Parish Development Model (PDM).
This follows a budgetary shortfall of UGX 72.8 billion required for effective coordination and supervision of PDM in FY 2022/23 presented by Godfrey Onzima, the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government.
Out of the 72.8 billion required by the Ministry of Local Government, 20 billion is for Secretariat operations and pillar Working Groups, and 52.8 billion is for local governments. The Ministry also needs an additional 26.69 billion as facilitation for parish chiefs.
The revelation raised concern from a section of MPs who noted that the government is not well prepared to implement the model that is envisaged to help poverty eradication.
Patrick Isiagi, the Budget Committee Chairperson, expressed concern over how the government is handling the model.
He said that it is unfortunate that up to now there is no money to facilitate parish chiefs, who are the drivers of the strategic program.
Fox Odoi, the Budama North East MP said he is disappointed that the government cannot pay focal persons at the parish.
Under this initiative, each of the 10,594 parishes in the country is supposed to receive UGX 17 million in the current financial year to start the implementation of the programme. According to the plan, each parish will receive UGX 100 million with effect from the next financial year 2022/2023.
The MPs claim that the apparent strategy could go to waste if the project is not adequately funded and coordinated to serve its intended purpose.
