Moses Emabu, Lc.V Chairman Amuria district Local government.
Amuria district has so far disbursed 21.2% of 2.48 billion shillings to intended beneficiaries in all 14 Sub counties and the 4 town councils,the District Commercial Officer Francis Xavier Okello has revealed.
This means that only 432.1 million shillings of 2.48 billion has been disbursed so far since the government program aimed improving incomes at households was launched by State Minister for Works Musa Ecweru in July.
The performance according to Okello has been lugging due to bureaucracy and slow adoption of technology by the parish chiefs – who are directly involved in registration of the beneficiaries at parish level.
The Amuria District Chairperson, Moses Emabu admits that the performance of Amuria district on PDM is still wanting but noted that this was due to a number of challenges including network failure lack of computers, interference by the politicians and so many more
The worst performing Sub Counties include Olwa and Abarilela. In Olwa, no single person has benefited out of the 535 million given to the sub County while Abarilela has managed to disburse only 4 million out of 642 million sent to the sub County. Others with poor performance in the PDM include; Asamuk Sub County and Asamuk Town Council which have given out 1.1% and 2.2% million shillings respectively.
Meanwhile good performance was recorded in Ogolai (63.2%), Akeriau (48.2%), and Morunyatuny (47.4%) Orungo Town Council and Orungo Sub County at 41% and 39%.
The leadership has tasked the parish chiefs to speed up the selection criteria while following the guide lines to the dot to ensure the program is a success.
Lillian Eyang, the Resident District Commissioner has warned the parish chiefs never to yield to political pressure and to desist from soliciting bribes from the beneficiaries warning that it will land them into prison.
“I warn you my dear chiefs that should you go on receiving money from wanainchi, you will end up in prison directly,” said Eyang in a meeting attended by all parish chiefs, town agents, Sub County chiefs and town clerks at Amuria district headquarters on Tuesday.
She warned that any parish chief who will not deliver on PDM will be shown an exit from local government.
The chiefs had earlier indicated that they were under intense pressure from elected leaders to fix their own people on the list of the first 107 beneficiaries in their parish.
They however lamented on lack of facilitation for the activities under PDM.