Persons with Disabilities- PWDs in Bundibugyo district have decried forgery in the disbursement of their grant from government. In 2011, government set up a special grant for PWDS with the aim of addressing inequality and unemployment by providing them with working capital to enable them start income generating activities.
The beneficiaries are expected to organize themselves into formal groups and apply for funds from the Gender, Labor and Social Development Ministry through the District Special Grant Committees that are supervised by Community Development Officers - CDOs with the help of Chief Administrative Officers- CAOs.
However, the PWDs in Bundibigyo are dissatisfied with the distribution of the grant. The matter came during a meeting between district officials and PWDs leaders in the board room of Bundibugyo Resident District Commissioner - RDC on Friday.
During the meeting, Aidah Mbabu, the chairperson Bundibugyo Women Persons with Disabilities, disclosed that at least eight out of every ten groups that benefit from the grant are not genuine.
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Mbabu urged the office of Bundibugyo District Community Development Office – DCDO, Edimon Manzi to come up with new modalities on how to manage the grant and asked him to always evaluate the groups.
In his response, Manzi argued that he isn't directly involved in the selection of the beneficiaries.
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He asked the local leaders to be careful every time they submit lists of beneficiaries to his office. As a way forward, Ronald Mutegeki, the Bundibugyo District LC V chairperson underscored the need to audit all the groups that have benefited from the grant.
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Mutegeki also challenged the PWD leaders and councilors to choose projects that are feasible to avoid making loses. For her part, the RDC, Grace Nkakwenza Asiimwe urged Manzi to always share information concerning the amount of money the district receives for PWDs.
According to information from the PWDs Focal Person in Bundibugypo district, Agnes Katusiime, the district receives Shillings 5.5 million quarterly but 15 percent of the money is spent on allocation meetings and monitoring.
Godwin Bwambale
Freelancer