Government through the Ministry of Finance has proposed to spend Shs56bn to sensitize Ugandans ahead of the implementation of the controversial Shs490bn Parish Model.
Appearing before Parliament’s Budget Committee last week, Joseph Enyimu, Acting Commissioner for Economic Development Policy and Research at Ministry of Finance said the money had been spread out in a number of entities to spearhead the program.
“This being a major reform, there will be a lot of sensitization and popularization to be done and we confirm that the community mobilization and mindset change program of National Development Plan III will be done. There are resources totaling to Shs56.9Bn for this. This money is all there but it has to be refocused to deliver on this Parish model,”Enyimu said.
In the 25th March 2021 letter by Deputy Secretary to Treasury, Patrick Ocailap, Government announced the establishment of another poverty alleviation program dubbed Parish Model, where Ugandans would access funds to a tune of Shs490Bn and pay back into the revolving fund.
The program like many others before it, is intended to lift Ugandans out of subsistence economy to the money economy, but this time around, new Parish Chiefs will be hired to manage the Fund.
The changes saw Government implement budget cuts from Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Agriculture sector witnessed the major cuts like; National Agricultural and Advisory Services (NAADs) lost Shs56bn meant for purchase of agriculture Supplies and Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) budget was cut by Shs58bn.
Funds from Ministry of Gender like Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) were cut by Shs32bn, Office of Prime Minister from PRDP-Shs98Bn, Office of Prime Minister Luwero Development Program-Shs36Bn, Ministry of Local Government’s Shs200n was diverted to the Parish model.
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I appreciate the gov’t for having thought wise to extend these programs at parish level and this is the only way people at grassroot will benefit the nearer the bone the sweeter the meat. It
Thank you.