KISORO: PDM money launched in kisoro district, four parish chiefs rewarded for doing well in data collection

 

The Parish Development Model money in Kisoro district, meant to eradicate poverty through the execution of development activities at the parishes has been officially launched by the minister of state for youth and children's affairs Hon Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateeke who tasked beneficiaries to invest the funds in beneficial selected enterprises.

While launching the funds at Mugatete play ground in Rukundo town council on Wednesday 31 May 2023,Hon Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateeke says Parish Development Model funds money is not appreciation money from president but revolving seed capital funds to elevate the people under subsistence farming.

She reminded beneficiaries that they will pay interest of 6 percent per annum of the money got from PDM sacco. Nyirabashitsi also warned beneficiaries not to misuse the money.

She requested RDC to help in recovering YLP money that was defaulted by some youths in Kisoro.

She says most parish chiefs work in parishes where they don't come from which makes them fail to understand well the challenges faced by people in the parishes where they are deployed to work.

The Kisoro RDC Hajji Shafiq Sekandi Ssengoba says the money that has been launched is for people who are in subsistence farming who cannot earn 3,000 shs a day and 100,000 in a month.

He says that he has got reports of some parish chiefs from Nkuringo town council who are requesting bribes from beneficiaries. He warned that such parish chiefs will be punished.

The Kisoro commercial officer Kazungu Geofrey PDM implementers faced challenges including lack of transport, gadgets for PDM implementing team.

He said 29 wards from eight town councils have no substantive Parish Development Committees.

Beneficiaries received the money electronically via DFCU bank and Centenary bank.They said they are going to invest it in beneficial projects.

Four parish chiefs rewarded

During the function four best performing parish chiefs and town agents in Parish development Model data collection were rewarded with sealed gifts and certificates as motivation for others to pull up their socks.

These include Nyiramugisha Jennifer and Mujawimana Jemimah from Northern and southern wards of Rukundo town council, Maniradukunda Leo from Gosorora parish in Nyakabande Sub County and Julius Habumugisha from Nyamagana ward in Kisoro municipality.

Kisoro district and Kisoro municipality have a total of 65 PDM SACCOS of which seven are from municipality and each SACCO has over 57 million shillings to benefit at least 57 members. A total of 3,757 People are expected to benefit from PDM funds in Kisoro before the end of this financial year according to the Kisoro Resident district commissioner, Hajji Shaifique Ssekandi.

According to Ssekandi, the success of PDM will depend on the hard work of the parish chiefs. On special note he commended the town agent for southern division, Mujawimana Jemimah for reaching to 20 people out 57 that are currently needed to utilise all the money in their SACCO.  He asked her to raise the remaining 37 people before this week ends as she already understands the formula.

He urged parish chiefs to follow proper guidelines of traversing different areas looking for the most vulnerable people if they are to be successful because the government systems can detect forgeries.

The Kisoro district LCV Chairman, Abel Bizimana also directed the Kisoro district CAO and Speaker to reward the best performing parish Chiefs and town agents with certificates of appreciation. He cautioned those that relax on their jobs saying that they will be interdicted.

The Kisoro district Chief Administrative officer, Hajji Badru Mayanja assured locals of better performances from his staff because he has over 65 parish chiefs and town agents who are mostly from Kisoro.

 Kisoro district has so far received 4,044,447,691shillings, Kisoro municipality 399,736708shillings .The total money in Kisoro 4,444,184,399 shillings.