MP Kyambadde holds PDM and SACCO barazas in Mawokota
The outcry was raised during a constituency evaluation tour conducted by Kyambadde, the former Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, aimed at assessing the performance of government initiatives and understanding grassroots challenges faced by community members.
Mawokota North MP Amelia Kyambadde presents gifts to Butoolo Health Centre III health workers. (Courtesy)
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During meetings with various PDM Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) in Kanyike, Butoolo, and Kyanja parishes, Amelia Kyambadde, Member of Parliament for Mawokota North, earlier this week received a barrage of complaints from beneficiaries who feel the program's primary goal of uplifting subsistence households is being derailed.
The outcry was raised during a constituency evaluation tour conducted by Kyambadde, the former Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, aimed at assessing the performance of government initiatives and understanding grassroots challenges faced by community members.
Participants at the July 27, public meetings, also known as barazas, included: residents and local leaders across several villages in Kammengo sub-county, Mpigi District.
The residents voiced concerns over an acute shortage of clean water, erratic electricity supply, rampant livestock theft, an influx of counterfeit agricultural drugs, and structural bottlenecks choking the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM) program.
John Mugerwa, the chairperson of the Kammengo Bwamulamira Piggery Farmers PDM group, reported that while the capital injection from the state is a noble idea, local livestock investments are being wiped out by disease outbreaks.
"Many of our piggery and livestock farmers are counting losses. Our animals are dying from Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever after injecting in our resources; this is a serious challenge we are facing, and it needs urgent attention," Mugerwa lamented.
He added that the situation is worsened by an increase in the theft of livestock, including pigs, goats, and cattle, which residents purchased using their PDM loan allocations.
More farmers reported an influx of counterfeit pesticides and veterinary drugs on the local market, which have caused massive crop failures and livestock fatalities.
Harriet Nantume reported to Kyambadde the increased animal theft in the community, which has put them in losses, and they fail to return the money they borrow from the SACCOs.
Residents also criticised the heavy bureaucratic demands of the PDM structure. Alozio Lukwago, the LC1 Chairperson for Bwamulamira Village, argued that the prolonged training and meeting schedules required before funds are disbursed frustrate beneficiaries. He urged the government to shorten the process.
"The training have also become a hurdle for the PDM program to flourish properly; we spend a lot of time and resources moving to and from training and meetings, yet sometimes money is delayed. Remember, some of us have to inject a lot of money into transport; some members give up along the way", Lukwago said.
Lukwago further petitioned the MP to lobby for a public secondary school in the sub-county, noting that private schools are unaffordable for low-income households.
In Kanyike village, residents led by the local chairperson, George Nsubuga, raised a health alarm over a local gin (waragi) distillation factory.
They accused the facility of releasing toxic emissions and foul-smelling waste into the environment, making respiration difficult for nearby households.
Nsubuga asked the Member of Parliament to help them take action against this factory because they have tried as local leaders to talk to the people responsible, but they have not been helped.
He noted that there is slow recovery because out of the sh392million that was disbursed to different households under the Parish Development Model, in Kammengo, only sh2million has been recovered, urging all the first beneficiaries to speed up on taking back the funds to enable other people to also benefit.
Kyambadde assures action, announces SAGE changes
Responding to the grievances, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde reassured the community that their challenges would be forwarded to the relevant line ministries for immediate action.
She revealed that the government has injected an additional sh100 million into parish bank accounts for this financial year to expand the PDM reach and cautioned beneficiaries against mismanaging the funds.
"These funds are revolving loans. I urge you to utilise them productively and ensure timely repayment so that other community members can benefit. I also challenge you to actively involve the youth in these projects to curb unemployment," Kyambadde said.
On infrastructure, she promised to follow up on the stalled water and rural electrification projects she had initiated during her previous tenure.
Kyambadde also delivered a policy update regarding the Social Economic Grant for the Elderly (SAGE), announcing that the government is lowering the eligibility age threshold from 80 years to 60 years, which will allow thousands of vulnerable older persons in Mpigi to access monthly stipend support.
She also visited Butoolo government health center III and interacted with health workers at the facility.
During interaction with medics and patients, Kyambadde, who expressed appreciation for the services and the good condition of the facility, rewarded staff with packages of: sugar, rice and soap as motivation.