The prime minister’s office has suspended funding for various projects under the Luweero-Rwenzori Rehabilitation programme because of lack of funds. In 2010, the office of the prime minister through the ministry in charge of Luweero Triangle launched a five year rehabilitation program worth 540 billion shillings in areas affected by the National Resistance Army Bush war. The program was aimed at improving the livelihood of residents an infrastructure in 39 districts.
However, one year after it was launched its future hangs in balance because of lack of funds. Christopher Kyomya, the Chief Administrative Officer Luweero says that they expected shillings 300 million this financial year but Pius Bigirimana, the permanent secretary in the prime minister’s office wrote informing him that there was no money. Kyomya explains that the district had planned to use the money to extend soft loans to farmers, construct schools, roads and fund key areas that are not funded by government.
He says that now that there is no money the projects have been put on halt until further notice. However the suspension of the program activities has not gone down well with both residents and local leaders in Luweero. They accuse the office of the prime minister of diverting their funds to other projects. Sam Sserunjogi, the chairman of Katikamu Sub County says that over 300 residents had applied for the farmers loans but they were shocked to receive the communication that there was no money.
Sserunjogi says that they are under pressure from residents who think that they swindled the funds and want the office of prime minister to come out publically and explain why it failed to disburse the funds.
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Zaitun Nalunga, a resident of Kikyusa sub county wants president Museveni to intervene and help them secure funding for their projects. Nalunga explains that she prepared her garden hoping to secure funds to buy seedlings for planting in vain. Julius Kaggwa, the LC III chairman Kikyusa Sub County says that they had planned to use the funds to construct classes for a primary school in the sub county to save pupils from studying under trees and the scorching sun but now they are disappointed because of lack of funds.
He says that they are planning to storm the Luweero triangle ministry next week and demand for the money. Rose Namayanja, the state minister in charge of Luweero Triangle says that the program activities were suspended after government cut her ministry’s budget. She explains that they received 3.5 out 10 billion shillings they were supposed to receive in the 2011/2012 which affected the programme.
She explains that due to the little funds they have scaled down their activities to 17 out of 39 districts. Namayanja says that they have advised districts that have not received the money to roll out their plans into next financial year.
