By Johnson Kanysige
Hoima District is currently struggling with clearing pension arrears, parish development model (PDM) extortions, and staffing gaps as leaders strive to offer service delivery to the locals in the district.
This was revealed by Ms. Sarah Nakalungi, the Chief Administrative officer (CAO) during a public baraza organized by the office of Inspectorate of government at the Seventh Day Adventist Church grounds in Hoima City.
On pension, Nakalungi revealed that they still have a challenge of clearing off the arrears for more than 500 pensioners and called for the intervention of the ministry of public service to approve the clearing of the arrears.
Nakalungi also highlighted several extortions and interferences of the parish development model (PDM) program. She revealed that there have been reported cases of extortions by two parish chiefs in Kigorobya town council. She noted that several group members of PDM SACCOs did not receive the funds yet they went through the entire process adding that the two parish chiefs have since been interdicted.
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) raised concerns of an existing gap, where PDM implementers are allegedly interfering with the system and deny the actual beneficiaries to access the funds by replacing their numbers with their own numbers at the completion of the entire process.
She also highlighted the existing staffing gaps at the district which is hampering service delivery. She highlighted officers like district health officer, engineer, education officer have spent years without substantive persons filling them.
She also urged the ministry of health to plan for recruitment of health workers at the Buseruka community hospital in Buserula Sub County which is being constructed as part of preparations to host AFCON games in 2027. She raised fears over the project becoming a white elephant if the ministry of health does not move fast to provide the lasting solution and close the current staffing gaps at the facilty.
