Officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development have cautioned Parish Development Model (PDM) program implementers in Mbale District against collecting extra money from beneficiaries eligible for PDM loans.
The officials emphasized that all funding and support for running the program is fully provided by the government.
The officials made the remarks during a stakeholders' evaluation meeting for the PDM, Emyooga implementers in Mbale district.
Mr. Golooba Lwanga, the rural financial inclusion PDM pillar officer from the ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, said every beneficiary is supposed to receive Shs1 million.
"Don't pay any money for data, forms, transport, stationary and others. The program beneficiaries are not allowed to pay any money to get PDM funds,”he says.
He said the loan is attached to interest rates of 6 percent per annum.
"The government got information that people are charging Shs5,000 from beneficiaries from the last financial year 2023-2024. The government sent Sh500, 000 a facilitation to help the Sacco leaders in giving loans to the beneficiaries. This money caters for data, forms, transport and stationery." he noted.
Mr Golooba said, Parish chiefs are government employees who receive a salary.
“The focal persons for the program receive an additional Sh100, 000 each month to help manage the PDM program. This money is now allocated to the district through the production department to pay them monthly,”he said.
Rita Namuwenge, Emyooga's national coordinator said, we have come to put things right.
“If we call you for a meeting you demand for transport and lunch.You have been suffering to get loans from banks with high interest rates but now the government has brought for you money saying in PDM you don't ask anything you have started doing negative." She said,
Joseph Lutalo Assistant Registrar cooperative the principals and values of cooperatives; they speak one language.
"According to the laws governing Cooperatives PDM leadership is Voluntary with no salary.
Any PDM Sacco leader who accepted to be elected to serve people and is expecting a salary is in the wrong place. No salary for them." Said Lutalo.
The Mbale District Chairperson, Muhammad Mafabi, warns Parish Chiefs and other officials to keep their hands off PDM funds.
“Extortion is bad. Even if I catch my own son involved in extortion, I will deal with him,”he says.
Mr. Wopuwa George, the RDC of in, said, "You people go through a lot to get a job, but once you have it, do it well and serve the poor."
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