By Sabir Musa

At its initial stage, the newly introduced Parish Development Model program in Arua City is taking a path of failure, according to some residents and local leaders, raising concerns over silence of the program. Sources who spoke to Radio Pacis reveal that there is need for the city authorities to start a fresh process if success is to be registered in this government’s new approach on wealth creation, employment and increasing household incomes at parish level, as they point out issues that are likely to fail the program.

Alivu Ward LC 2 Chairperson, Santos Oria attributes communication gap as a main factor for failure of the program, stating that all 18 groups approved out of 49 in his ward are not able to access the 17 million shillings deposited in the SACCO account. “Since we received the certificate (last year), until today they have not told us what is happening now” the Chairperson wonders. This is the same experience in several other areas of the city according to interactions with some residents and local leaders.

The Operation Wealth Creation Coordinator in Arua City, Col. Loti Dradria challenge stakeholders to consider involvement of community, calling for a new start of the process to register success. “PMD failed in Arua City, we are going to restart that exercise using participatory-rural appraisal format whereby technocrats come to village together with other stakeholders to map the area” he revealed. The number of successfully registered groups to benefit from this program still remains unclear since there is not proper communication on the progress, but a source in Arua City Commercial office estimates it at 90%.
However, Arua City Parish Development Model Focal Person, Robinson Draga while speaking in a recent meeting at Arua Central Division head quarter blamed failure of PDM on negligence of duty by some offices charged with the responsibilities. “PDM has certain pillars headed by the Sector Head. We have Production Officers, Field Staffs, when it comes to creation of awareness, people are looking at the Focal Person. People’s offices are expecting money which is not here and they are not moving” Draga explains.

After depositing 17 million shillings on SACCOs accounts, government also pledged to add 100 million shillings to start activities designed under the Parish Development Model, but many of the set beneficiaries have confirmed that they have not received this.

COVER PHOTO: President Yoweri Museveni launching the Parish Development Model. Photo by National Resistance Movement (NRM)