West Nile leaders push for second phase as DRDIP ends
Dec 12, 2023
The leaders raised the concerns during the project review meeting held in Arua City last week to assess the progress of the DRDIP projects and their impacts in the last five years.
Ocoko Primary School one of the project implemented under DRDIP.
By Denis Oringi and Robert Adiga
Journalists @New Vision
___________________________ Lc 5 chairpersons of the district implementing DRDIP
As the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) in the 15 refugee-hosting districts in Uganda ends on December 31 this year, there are calls for the continuation of the project.
The leaders from the five refugee-hosting districts in the West Nile region are calling for the continuation of the project on account of its positive impact in the various sectors including education, health, and infrastructure (bridges and roads among others).
The leaders raised the concerns during the project review meeting held in Arua City last week to assess the progress of the DRDIP projects and their impacts in the last five years.
DRDIP is a Government of Uganda social protection and development-based programme implemented under the Office of the Prime Minister in the refugee hosting districts across the country.
According to Koboko district chairperson Mambo Ashraf, though the project has greatly contributed to the development of the district's health sector, they still need support for the district hospital.
In Arua, besides the construction of classroom blocks in the first phase of the project, district chairperson Alfred Okuonzi says, the district still needs teachers' houses in the schools that have benefitted in the first phase of the project.
“We now have very nice classrooms in some of our schools but we do not have the staff houses and, therefore, the building alone cannot translate into the good performance without teachers residing in the schools,” Okuonzi said.
Joel Ojedra, the Desk Officer DRDIP project of Madi Okollo district, called for considerations to construct markets in the district for the livelihood component to be boosted.
Yumbe district local government deputy Speaker Zakia Aduyo While presenting the priorities of the district during the project review meeting highlighted the Need to bring on board urban water shades to promote clean and safe water in the population.
Expedite project implementation or return money
However, Dr Robert Limlim, the executive director of DRDIP, urged the district leaders from the refugee-hosting districts to ensure that all the projects being implemented are completed before December 31, 2023.
“To avoid the return of the money to the funder which is the World Bank, through the OPM account, I want to call on the district desk officers of DRDIP projects to work hard to see that the money is disbursed to the beneficiary's account to be used before the end of the project. So, make sure you absorb the monies before December 31st or you risk losing the money,” Limlim said.
DRIP beneficiary districts are Adjumani, Moyo, Obongi, Yumbe, Koboko, Arua, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Kiryandongo, Hoima, Kikuube, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Isingiro, and Lamwo.
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