Auditor General reveals serious irregularities in the operations of PDM

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The Auditor General Edward Akol has presented the Auditor General’s annual report to the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, which includes audit reports on departments, agencies, and critical interventions, including the Parish development model.

At the event witnessed by the State Minister of Finance, Henry Musasizi and other audit officials, Akol told the Speaker that in the report, an investigation of the PDM funds revealed that out of the sh3.258 trillion released cumulatively by the Government to 10,589 PDM SACCOs, only sh9.340 billion has been recovered from the 18,105 beneficiaries in 709 Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOs).

He added that the report highlights a number of challenges affecting the implementation of the PDM, including: funding of non-existing (ghost projects), delays in disbursement of funds to households, implementation of ineligible projects, diversion of funds and duplicate recipients.

“I noted that of the beneficiaries who received PRF by December 2022, a total of 18,105 beneficiaries in 709 SACCOs in 30 LGs had commenced voluntary recovery and a sum of sh9.340 billion had been recovered; however, there was no evidence of preparedness for recovery in all LGs," Akol said.

Auditor General, Edward Akol. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

He added, "I noted that out of sh3.2trillion released cumulatively by Government to 10,589 PDM SACCOs, only sh2.7trillion (84 %) was disbursed to households by the end of the financial year 2024/25, leaving sh508.646 billion (16%) undisbursed.”

Speaker Among asked the Auditor General to use the whip in auditing the PDM monies and ensure that the funds go to the intended beneficiaries.

Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

“As we appropriate monies, we want so many people out there, like the PDM, who want the money to reach the final user, to the final beneficiary. But the problem we have is the diversion of these monies. The problem we have is that the money does not go to the intended beneficiary," Among told Akol.

She added, "Auditor General, we want you to whip. This money should go to the right people. Because we cannot appropriate the money, and then we have 70% of the people who are rich, and then the 30% cannot get anything. We want you to make sure that this money reaches the right people.”

The Speaker defended her stance, noting that some of the success stories of people receiving the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds are why the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was voted into power during the just concluded general elections.

“You have heard the challenges that we have with the PDM. By the way, our votes, most of the votes we got were because of the people who got the money rightfully, PDM money," Speaker Among said. 

She added, "But when you find, when you look at the report, for instance, there are delays in disbursements, and then somebody is giving money twice, and others are not getting it, and then this lack of alignment of the parish priorities. So this can only be discovered by this team.” 

Among urged the Ministry of Finance to address the office’s staffing gaps and other requirements to ensure effective functioning.

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

The report will be laid on the floor of the House and later transmitted to the relevant committees for further examination.