MADI OKOLLO PDM FUNDS UNDER SPOTLIGHT AS ‘OUTSIDER’ BENEFICIARIES TRIGGER ACCOUNTABILITY CONCERNS

Ma’di Okollo district signpost.

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

Parish Development Model executives in Ma’di Okollo District have come under scrutiny over alleged improper identification of beneficiaries, following reports that some people who received the funds are residents of neighboring districts, including Nebbi and Gulu.

Local leaders say some of the beneficiaries reportedly return to their home districts after receiving the money, making it difficult for parish authorities to monitor their projects, conduct routine follow-ups and establish whether the funds are being used for the intended purposes.

The concerns have raised questions about the effectiveness of the beneficiary verification process at parish level, particularly whether adequate checks are being conducted to confirm the residence and eligibility of applicants before they are approved to receive the funds.

Ayikoru Jessilla, the female District Councilor for Anyiribu Sub-county, says the identification of beneficiaries should be strengthened to prevent people from outside the district from benefiting at the expense of eligible residents. “These people who are going to get this money must be known, where you from are because some of us they come from Nebbi or they come from Gulu, they get this money and run back” she said.

Jessilla says proper identification is important because communities have households that qualify for government support, and allowing beneficiaries from other areas to access the funds could undermine the purpose of the programme.

Matua Elijah also expressed concern over the reported movement of beneficiaries after accessing the funds, saying the situation could undermine monitoring and accountability under the programme. “Everybody, the leader should all be involved and make follow up together with LC 1 chairpersons, one who receives the money should be followed” he said.

According to local leaders, the challenge does not necessarily end with the identification of beneficiaries. Once funds are released, officials are expected to follow up on the supported enterprises and establish whether beneficiaries are using the money to improve household incomes as required under the Parish Development Model.

However, when beneficiaries move away from the parishes where they received the funds, local authorities may struggle to establish their whereabouts, monitor their enterprises and determine whether the money is being used appropriately.

The Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Ma’di Okollo, Abeka Tom, however, says leaving the district after receiving the funds does not remove the beneficiaries from the district’s accountability process.

“We have injected Eighteen billion, Eight hundred nine million, and nine hundred ninety eight thousand shillings in Ma’di Okollo for PDM. We are not going to leave that money like that, we don’t want to hear excuse but instead the money must be returned” the RDC assured.

Abeka says authorities will work to establish the whereabouts of beneficiaries who have reportedly left the district and assess whether the funds they received are being utilized for the intended purposes.

The concerns come at a time when Ma’di Okollo District is seeking to ensure that the Parish Development Model achieves its intended objective of supporting households to transition from subsistence activities to sustainable income-generating enterprises.

The Parish Development Model is intended to help households transition from subsistence activities into the money economy by providing financial support for income-generating activities. Its success therefore depends not only on the release of funds but also on ensuring that the money reaches the right people and is invested in productive activities.

For the programme to deliver meaningful results, local authorities must be able to identify genuine beneficiaries, maintain accurate records and continuously monitor how the funds are being used.

The situation also highlights the importance of community-level verification before government funds are disbursed. Parish authorities are often the closest government structures to beneficiaries and are therefore expected to have reliable information about the residents within their areas of operation.

With eighteen billion, eight hundred nine million, nine hundred ninety eight thousand shillings (18,809,998,000shs) involved in the programme, the concerns over beneficiary identification and follow-up have significant implications for accountability.

The key measure will ultimately be whether the funds can be traced to genuine beneficiaries and productive enterprises, and whether authorities can account for beneficiaries who have moved away from the district after receiving the money.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis