PDM secretariat attributes slow shift of funds to Wendi platform
“I noted that 5,123 SACCO bank accounts in 122 LGs, had not yet been closed, contrary to the guidance. By 30th June 2025, a balance of sh4,944,592,705 was outstanding on 4,974 SACCO accounts in various commercial banks,” Akol observed.
During the year under review, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) released sh1.1 trillion to 10,594 PDM SACCOs, with administrative costs consuming sh410 billion.
KAMPALA - The Parish Development Model (PDM) Secretariat has responded to the observations made by Auditor General (AG) Edward Akol in the report for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Speaking to the press at her office on Friday, February 13, 2026, Bonnie Kashaija Mutungi, the Deputy National Coordinator for PDM, allayed fears.
“As the PDM secretariat, we assure everyone that there is nothing to put anyone on alarm or in tension. Change of programmes or projects cannot happen in a day, but it is a process. Having begun in January last year, the shift to the Wendi platform is still a work in progress,” said Mutungi.
Adding that, "PDM secretariat together with all stakeholders in PDM are collectively and harmoniously working on ensuring that the process of shifting from commercial banks to Wendi is working well,” she reiterated.
She further clarified that they are working closely with ministries whose core mandates align with the PDM pillars, such as Agriculture, ICT, and Finance, as well as all local governments, given that they are the primary locus of PDM beneficiaries.
What is wendi
Wendi is an electronic mobile wallet platform developed by Post Bank Uganda in conjunction with MTN Uganda.
Wendi is a borrowed Luganda word meaning “where you are,” implying that the money reaches beneficiaries directly on their phone, helping to avoid ‘red tape’ and ‘corruption’.
Under this arrangement, the bank meets all bank charges.
AG’s report
In his consolidated audit report to Parliament for the year ended December 31, 2025, Akol faulted the entity for failure to close Non-Wendi SACCO Bank accounts.
Contrary to the directives, Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST) Ramathan Ggoobi had issued to Accounting Officers of Local Governments and the Executive Director of KCCA on January 27, 2025.
The directive tasked the officials to ensure that any PDM SACCO bank account for the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF) held outside Government banks is closed.
Also, Ggoobi ordered that all balances on the aforementioned accounts without delay are wired to authorised PDM SACCO accounts in Government banks to enable lending to members.
And lastly, these SACCOs should obtain closing bank statements covering the entire period from account opening to closure to support reconciliation, audit and broader governance requirements.
In his report, however, Akol stated that the directives Akol observed were not complied with.
“I noted that 5,123 SACCO bank accounts in 122 LGs, had not yet been closed, contrary to the guidance. By 30th June 2025, a balance of sh4,944,592,705 was outstanding on 4,974 SACCO accounts in various commercial banks,” he observed.
A phenomenon, he said, undermined attainment of the intended benefits of using the Wendi platform, which range from lower transaction costs to transparency, among others.
During the year under review, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) released sh1.1 trillion to 10,594 PDM SACCOs, with administrative costs consuming sh410 billion.
“Wendi has already wiped out those because it is a highly computerised system, you cannot even afford to receive twice. Once they put in your name, it will reject it,” Mutungi explained.