PARISH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES IN MOYO DISTRICT UNDERGO TRAINING ON PDM IMPLEMENTATION

Members of PDC and Parish Chiefs in Moyo Town Council during Training on the SEAT Project

By Stephen Unzimai

Moyo

CEFORD, in partnership with Moyo District Local Government, has engaged Parish Development Committees (PDCs)for a training  under the project titled Strengthening Civil Participation for Effective Accountability and Transparency in the Public Sector (SEAT) in the West Nile sub-region.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Royal Danish Embassy (RDE) in Uganda and covers five districts of  Moyo, Obongi, Terego, Madi-Okollo, and Arua. It commenced on September 1, 2024, and is set to run until December 31, 2027.

As the lead partner, CEFORD collaborates with WECISNET and ICS in Madi-Okollo and Terego, respectively.

Mr. James Onen, an advocacy advisor for the SEAT project at CEFORD, stated that the training aims to enhance the responsiveness of local governments to service delivery and promote civic participation among women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in development processes, including the monitoring of government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).

“The purpose of the training is to strengthen the capacities of Parish Development Committees to effectively implement the PDM. For instance, we want them to understand their roles and responsibilities in local governance and the development process. Additionally, we believe the training will enhance their skills in participatory planning, budgeting, and resource mobilization,” Mr. Onen said.

The project benefits four sub-counties in Moyo District: Moyo Town Council, Metu, Laropi, and Lefori. It targets political and technical leaders, special interest groups such as persons with disabilities, women, youth, and PDC members.

Mr. Isadru Peter, a youth representative in the PDCs of Moyo Town Council, expressed gratitude for the training, stating that it has helped them understand their roles more clearly.

“This training has really helped us a lot. We have been able to learn our roles as Parish Development Committees (PDCs), what we are supposed to do, and we now fully understand them,” Mr. Isadru said.

Similarly, Mrs. Dropia Florence Pyem, the Women’s Council Chairperson for Central Parish in Moyo Town Council, said the training has empowered them.

“After two years, people are supposed to return this money, and it is still us who will follow up to ensure repayment. From this training, we have learned that we will face many challenges that we previously did not anticipate,” Mrs. Dropia said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Enzama Patrick, the Assistant Town Clerk of Moyo Town Council, commended CEFORD for the training, stating that it will enhance the capacities of PDCs.

“Local-level planning and implementation can only succeed through PDCs as they are responsible for planning and budgeting in all activities within the parish, which extends down to the cells or villages,” Mr. Enzama said.

The two-day training in Moyo District began with Moyo Town Council and Metu Sub-County on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will conclude with Laropi and Lefori Sub-Counties on Thursday and Friday, March 21, 2025

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