The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has generously distributed brand new HP laptops to 25 parish chiefs in Ruhinda North, Mitooma District, with the aim of facilitating their work in implementing the Parish Development Model.
Tayebwa, who also represents the Ruhinda North constituency in Parliament, took this initiative a step further by providing six brand new HP printers to all the sub-counties within his constituency.
This benevolent action followed numerous complaints about parish chiefs allegedly imposing unauthorized fees ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 shillings on individuals to include them in the system.
Tayebwa handed over the equipment during a meeting attended by all parish chiefs, Parish Sacco Chairpersons, as well as the district’s political and technical leadership. The gathering was convened to review the outcomes of the two-day community engagements that Tayebwa had conducted on the Parish Development Model.
During these community engagements at the parish level in Ruhinda North, it came to light that some local leaders and parish chiefs in certain areas had introduced their own additional guidelines. Some even made it obligatory for husbands to sign for their wives before approval.
Moreover, it was revealed that individuals were being charged 10,000 shillings to be included in the system, with additional fees for coordination purposes. These illicit charges and interferences were found to be in violation of established guidelines, prompting Tayebwa to caution parish chiefs against such unlawful practices.
In response to complaints from some beneficiaries, Tayebwa also supplied 10,000 Parish Development Model application forms. These individuals had reported being charged 51,000 shillings to print a 17-page application form.
Sharifa Nakintu, the Chief Administrative Officer of Mitooma, lauded the Deputy Speaker for his community engagements, emphasizing that they have been instrumental in raising awareness about the model. She expressed hope that the equipment would eliminate the unnecessary delays caused by some parish chiefs.
Benon Karyeija, the District Chairperson, urged other area Members of Parliament to exercise fiscal responsibility, as small expenses can impact the program’s budget. Mitooma District received one billion shillings for the Parish Development Model program, which will be disbursed to 79 parishes.
The Parish Development Model is a government initiative with seven pillars designed to elevate 39% of households from subsistence living to active participation in the monetary economy. This model positions the parish as the focal point for multi-sectoral community development, encompassing planning, implementation, supervision, and accountability.
The seven pillars of the Parish Development Model include Production, Storage, Processing, and Marketing; Infrastructure and Economic Services; Financial Inclusion and Social Services; Mindset Change; Parish-Based Management Information System (PDMIS); and Governance and Administration.
By Edson Kinene
