Erastus Kibirango the LC 5 Chairman of Luwero district explains that small-scale farmers failed to access the funds and buy irrigation equipment because of conditions that include co-funding hence it was returned to the treasury for the second year.
Edwin Serebe, the town agent of Bukalasa parish says that the process of disbursing money to other applicants has been slow because an official in the district commercial office asked for a bribe of Shillings 200,000 to upload the names of the applicants on the PDM system.
Jim Mugunga, the Spokesperson in the Ministry of Finance clarified that the provided 22.6 billion Shillings read by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija last week is not just for the arrears. He says part of it will be used to fund the deployment of interns.
Luwero Resident District Commissioner, Richard Bwabye ordered the duo’s arrest following complaints from the beneficiaries. According to Bwabye, the SACCO received Shillings 58 million under the PDM program for providing loans to its members.
Yiga states that employees with arrears, including teachers, health workers, and staff in the production department, are yet to receive their pay, and the financial institutions should not act with hostility as they pressure them to clear the loans.
In the proposed budget estimates for the next financial year, central government is expected to transfer 23.23 Billion Shillings, constituting 79.0 per cent; discretionary transfers 3.5 Billion Shillings, representing 12.0 per cent and other government transfers 1.2 Billion Shillings, representing 4.1 per cent.
Elizabeth Namanda the Luwero District Chief Administrative Officer welcomed the commitment by the government to take over the project and said they are looking forward to knowing how and when this will be fulfilled.
According to a circular to all headteachers of government-aided secondary schools, the district has written to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development asking for supplementary funds to pay for the salaries. The circular dated September 1, 2022, requested the affected staff to remain patient.
Robert Ssenu the LCIII Chairperson of Kikamulo sub-county says the impassable roads are affecting the transportation of goods and services in the district.
Amuria and Kapelebyong District Councils have failed to pass their budget for the next financial year after councilors protested the non-payment of allowances and the absence of copies of the budget.
In Hoima district, 840 million shillings were received to facilitate the operations of the parish development model but Charles Kajura, the district focal person for the Programme says they could not disburse it to the various parishes over a lack of implementation guidelines. In Bukwo district, Resident District Commissioner Hashaka Mpimbaza says that Chief Administrative Officer has failed to disclose how much funds were disbursed for the programme.
Franklin Jjingo, who lost Shillings 3million to the scam says that they woke up on Monday when the financial withdraws had been suspended before the online platform was completely closed down on Wednesday.
Irene Sekamwa Kajoro, a Product Manager of Financial Services Development at the Agricultural Business Initiative says they see a lot of phobias, especially among rural farmers where small changes such as the introduction of a tax threw off a number from using mobile money services in conducting business.
In a letter to all Chief Administrative Officers dated February 3, 2022, Ben Kumumanya the Permanent Secretary of Local Government says that the funds should be used to pay salary for chairpersons and technical staff, allowances for councilors, and other council expenses.
Without specifying amounts, Dr Diana Atwine, the MOH permanent Secretary told an emergency meeting called by Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja that at the time of depositing the money to the two procurement entities they had thought they would use money promised by the World Bank which has not yet come through.
Of this, at least 1.3 trillion Shillings was already spent within the 3 per cent legal limit which the government can spend and seek approval later from Parliament, while 2.4 trillion Shillings is for prior approval by Parliament.
Last week, the Ministry of Finance, released a total of 5.8 trillion Shillings to facilitate government institutions in the second quarter of the year, covering the months of October, November and December 2021. Luwero district received 15.4 billion Shillings to cater for wages and development programmes among other activities during the same period.
Samuel Kigula the LC 5 Chairman of Nakasongola says that the committee will also make further consultations on the boundaries for proposed Nakasongola West and East Divisions.
Kibirango explains that the money was released by the office of the Chief Administrative Officer and deposited on private accounts of health workers which may put it a risk of embezzlement .
In spite of releasing the funds timely, the Ministry says up to 119 billion meant for wage bill was returned unspent; gratuity 18.9 billion, pension 7.7 billion, non-wage recurrent 35.5 billion and 40.7 billion for development.
