A team from the Office of the National Chairman - NRM (ONC) conducted a monitoring exercise in Anai Ober Cell, Lira City West, to oversee the selection of household beneficiaries under the Parish Development Model (PDM). The exercise aimed to ensure transparency and fairness in distributing UGX 50 million to selected enterprise groups.
Key Participants and Process
The monitoring team was led by Ms. Langol Prossy, ONC Regional Coordinator for the Lango Sub-Region, and Mr. Olwa James Justin, an ONC Muzzukulu. They worked closely with key stakeholders, including:
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The Community Development Officer (CDO)
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Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) representatives
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Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO)
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Local leaders
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Parish Development Committees (PDCs)
The Anai Lira City West PDM SACCO, consisting of 117 enterprise groups, saw 27 groups successfully submit their beneficiaries for funding. Each group was required to select one or two members to receive support, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process. Mr. Abak Kenneth, the group secretary, confirmed that the verification of selected beneficiaries was conducted openly.
Community Feedback and Concerns
The Anai Ober LC1 Chairperson thanked ONC and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for championing the PDM initiative. However, he highlighted the need for increased funding.
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Anai Ober Parish has 4,137 households, and Anai Okii Parish has over 2,000 households, but only UGX 268 million has been disbursed since 2023, reaching less than 10% of the households.
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Concerns were also raised about some initial beneficiaries changing their enterprises, emphasizing the need for continuous tracking and monitoring to ensure effective implementation.
Beneficiary Visit and Program Impact
As part of the visit, the ONC team inspected the progress of Mr. Kodo George, a 60-year-old beneficiary from Anai Ober Cell. His enterprise, selected for PDM support, provided valuable insights into the program's impact at the grassroots level.
Commitment to Effective Implementation
The monitoring exercise reaffirmed ONC and local authorities’ commitment to ensuring PDM funds reach the intended beneficiaries and contribute to sustainable economic growth. Stakeholders pledged to:
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Strengthen oversight to ensure transparency.
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Advocate for increased funding to expand the program’s reach.
The Parish Development Model remains a key strategy in Uganda’s efforts to uplift households through enterprise development. Local leaders continue to call for enhanced support to maximize its impact.