Concerns over fraud and mismanagement of PDM funds in Amolatar

Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Amolatar

Disbursement of the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in Amolatar district has been put on hold following suspicions of a potential loss exceeding Shillings 300 million.

The suspicion ensued from a specialized internal audit report that revealed how various SACCO leaders, mobile money agents, community development officers, and Sub-county chiefs purportedly colluded to embezzle the funds.

Mr. Francis Rwotlonyo Okello, the Amolatar Resident District Commissioner, said the audit that was commissioned by the district authorities revealed significant financial irregularities in handling PDM funds in the district.

For instance, the audit identified an overpayment of up to Shs196 million to certain individuals, with some receiving up to Shs14 million on their mobile phones, against the guideline of Shs1 million per beneficiary.

The audit report indicates that Shs102 million was disbursed to ineligible individuals who had never been profiled under the PDM.

These numbering 56 received between Shs 700, 000 to Shs5 million, according to the report.

Rwotlonyo said preliminary findings suggest connivance between the SACCO leaders, mobile money agents, and community development officers to steal the funds.

Paul Mbiiwa Samuel, the Amolatar Chief Administrative Officer said the misallocation has deprived legitimate beneficiaries of their rightful access to the funds

For his part, the LC5 chairperson, Geoffrey Ocen, raised concerns over the banking system being used to disburse the money.

Ocen said the suspects could have used the gaps in the payment system developed by Post Bank to steal the money.