KAMPALA, Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) –Residents of Kazo Angola Parish in Kawempe Division, Kampala, have called for increased funding under the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying the current disbursement threshold is too low to meet the needs of the area’s estimated 40,000 residents.
The residents made the appeal during discussions on the performance of the parish PDM SACCO, the recovery of funds issued to beneficiaries and the implementation of other government programmes.
According to parish officials, Kazo Angola Parish has so far received Shs350 million under the latest PDM fund disbursement arrangement, with the recovery rate standing at Shs10 million.
The funds were distributed among the parish zones, with Kazo Angola receiving Shs69 million, Lugooba Shs67 million and Corner Zone Shs66 million, while the remaining funds went to other beneficiaries within the parish.
The residents argued that the limited number of households benefiting from the programme undermines its potential to reduce poverty, urging the government to increase the amount released to the parish and expand access to the funds.
They noted that out of an estimated 40,000 residents, only about 350 households had benefited, calling for a review of the funding threshold to enable more families to engage in income-generating activities.
The meeting, which also involved the election of the parish PDM committee, was chaired by the area parish chief, Herbert Kwoba, accompanied by technical officers.
Kwoba commended beneficiaries for investing the loans in profitable enterprises, saying some households had pooled their resources to undertake joint business ventures aimed at improving their livelihoods.
He, however, emphasised the importance of responsible use of the funds and recovery of the loans to ensure that more households benefit from the programme.
The Shs10 million recovered so far represents about 2.9 per cent of the Shs350 million disbursed to the parish, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of loan repayment and assessment of the programme’s performance.
Residents also raised concerns over what they described as inadequate social infrastructure, demanding the construction of a hospital and a secondary school to serve the growing population.
They further called for the establishment of a technical skills training centre to equip unemployed young people with practical skills and enable them to participate in income-generating activities.
According to the residents, expanding skills training opportunities would help reduce unemployment, household poverty and idleness among young people.
They also asked the government to strengthen routine desilting of the Nakamiro Channel, which they said occasionally floods, exposing residents to waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
On security, the residents called for improved policing and installation of streetlights, particularly in Corner Zone and other dark spots along the channel, which they said require greater attention.
The residents commended the Kawempe Division Town Clerk, Geoffrey Rwakabare, Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki and other political and technical leaders for their efforts to improve service delivery in the division.
They urged the government to address the concerns raised while strengthening the PDM to ensure that funding reaches more households, businesses remain productive and recovered money is made available to support additional beneficiaries.
