By Eusukoit Cuthbert Otim.
AMURIA. Up to 73.7 million shillings has gone missing from the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in Amuria district.
The money accrued from illegal charges imposed by the bank and other scrupulous people.
The Patriot has established that each PDM beneficiary is charged 5000 shillings by the bank while another 5000 is charged for a voucher tooling to a deduction of 10,000 per beneficiary.
Amuria district received 10.5 billion (10,597,000,000) and has disbursed 7.3 billion (7, 377,000,000. This means a total of 73,770,000 has been lost to unscrupulous persons due to irregular deductions.
State Minister for Microfinance and small enterprises Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune has described the deductions as illegal. He has ordered an immediate investigation into the saga and demanded the RDC, DISO and PDC Amuria district to furnish him with a report in 2 weeks with effect from Tuesday 17 October, 2023.
Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, the State Minister for Microfinance and small enterprises.
“This is unacceptable and must stop henceforth and I direct the office of RDC, DISO and police to take up this matter,” he said while speaking to the beneficiaries in Amuria Town Council on Tuesday.
However, Kyeyune directed the Opportunity Bank Soroti Branch which is undertaking PDM transactions in Amuria district to refund that money to the beneficiary individuals with immediate effect.
Emmanuel Okori one of the PDM beneficiary in Asamuk Sub County raised concern that they were subjected to numerous and hefty charges by unknown persons or authorities and therefore they were cheated.
“The bank deducts 11,000 from each of our accounts and another 5000 is deducted for a voucher and we are cheated,” said Okori.
Meanwhile, the Minister has clarified that;
- No bank should charge any coin on PDM accounts of the beneficiaries while paying them.
- Government of Uganda and all banks in Uganda shall not charge beneficiaries of all government programs any money while transacting for them. Such programs include; PDM, Emyooga, and others.
- Only 5000 shall be deducted on a beneficiary’s account as minimum balance.
The Minister said his ministry agreed in principal with the top bank management across board on the above.
Minister Kyeyune advised the beneficiaries of PDM to continue saving in their accounts in order to remain active.
The Amuria District Commercial Officer Francis Xavier Okello, the Focal point person PDM program said the 5000 charge on a voucher was in approval of the Parish Development Committees.
Out of the 10, 597, 000, 000 sent to Amuria district, 7, 377,000, 000 has been disbursed to 7377 beneficiaries across the district.
The balance as of 17 October, 2023 is 3, 220, 000, 000 which the bank has been instructed to deduct only 5,000 as minimum balance in the account.
