Government of Uganda through the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has given solar powered tablets to Parish Development Model (PDM) Saccos in Maracha District to enhance traceability, transparency and strengthen financial management.

At the handout of the tablets on Wednesday, October 15, UCC West Nile regional manager Mr. JP. Patrick Owachgiu said the distribution of the tablets would cover the whole region and emphasized the importance the devices will play in the implementation of the project.

“We started in Moyo. The devices you are getting friends are meant to support your accountability in the area of PDM. The device you are receiving is not a personal device you are receiving it on behalf of the Sacco,” he remarked.

Owachgiu said UCC will give free internet bundles to the PDM secretaries to ease coordination between them and other PDM implementing stakeholders.

“We want to improve communication between you, the district and Ministry of Finance. After the end of this distribution Uganda Communications Commission will give you internet bundle for 6 months free of charge to enhance communication,” he revealed.

Mr. Ben Wachiru, an official with Ministry of Finance said the PDM leaders should embark on recovering disbursed funds whose recovery is overdue.

“Politicians should not tell you it is free money, I encourage you to tell your people to bring back the money, please tell them we need the money,” he cautioned.

Wachiru tasked the PDM Sacco leaders to start capturing people who received less than UGX I million off the system, emphasizing Ministry of Finance is looking into the matter. 

“This money will come out any time, tell your people they should capture those backlogs onto the system. Please capture the backlogs it helps in tracing and accountability,” he said.

Maracha District Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Patrick Olila told the PDM leaders they are the custodians of the money that has been sent to the communities.

“You are the people who have been chosen to safeguard the monies Government of Uganda has given to the communities, that is why government has gone ahead to give you these ipads,” he stated.

Olila said with the handwork of the PDM leaders and other stakeholders the program will register resounding success.

“We need PDM to deliver, when you go to other countries you have what we call the village banks, people in the village level have money to deposit in the account and the scenario must happen in this country. There are no people who can champion this apart from you,” he observed.

Maracha District has disbursed UGX 27 billion to 30,000 beneficiaries.