Lamwo district has begun a major transition in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), with authorities demanding full accountability reports from outgoing parish committees before handing over responsibilities to newly elected leaders.
The exercise, which covers all 86 parishes and wards in the district, is aimed at promoting transparency, proper management of government resources and ensuring that the next phase of PDM funding benefits the intended households.
The Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has directed all outgoing PDM committees to submit detailed reports showing how funds received since the launch of the programme in 2023 have been managed.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Lamwo County, Oyo Robinson, said the accountability process is a critical requirement during the ongoing handover exercise between outgoing and newly elected PDM parish committees.
He explained that each parish and ward must provide records indicating the amount of money received, beneficiaries supported, the number of households in the parish, those who are yet to benefit, and the balance remaining on parish accounts.
“The committees must account for all the funds they have received from 2023 up to 2026. They should clearly show the beneficiaries who have accessed the funds, those waiting, and the available balances,” Oyo said.
The outgoing committees are also required to hand over government equipment provided to support PDM implementation, including tablets, chargers and power banks used for data collection, beneficiary registration and programme monitoring.
Oyo said the accountability exercise follows concerns raised by some community members over delays and challenges experienced during the first phase of the programme.
He noted that strengthening transparency at parish level would help restore confidence among beneficiaries and improve the delivery of government programmes.
“Accountability is important because these are public resources meant to improve livelihoods. The new committees must start their work with clear records and ensure that communities understand how the programme operates,” he said.
He further clarified that any unspent money on parish accounts would not automatically be returned to the central government but would remain at the parish level and could be used for approved community income-generating activities in accordance with government guidelines.
Meanwhile, Lamwo district has started preparing newly elected PDM committees for the next phase of implementation, which will include fresh disbursement of funds to new beneficiaries.
Senior Commercial Officer, Ogiki Joseph, said the handover process is being conducted across the district to ensure a smooth transition following the expiry of the previous committees’ term.
He said newly elected committees will undergo training before assuming full responsibility for managing the programme at parish level.
“The training will equip the new committees with knowledge on beneficiary identification, payment procedures, record keeping and government guidelines to ensure that the right people benefit from the programme,” Ogiki explained.
He added that district officials are moving from one parish to another to supervise the transition process and address any challenges that may arise.
Ogiki said fresh PDM disbursements are expected to begin by mid-August or before the end of August 2026, after completion of training and verification processes.
He confirmed that all 86 parishes and wards in the district already have shs50 million deposited in their respective accounts to support a new group of beneficiaries under the programme.
The transition comes at a time when communities are looking to PDM as one of the government’s key interventions to support household income generation through agriculture, small businesses and other economic activities.
In Gangdyang parish, Padibe town council, newly elected PDM parish chairperson Oyo Dicken pledged to promote openness and accountability in managing the programme to ensure residents benefit from the government initiative.
Oyo said his leadership would prioritise transparency by ensuring that community members are informed about beneficiary selection, fund management and progress of PDM activities.
“My commitment is to serve the people of Gangdyang Parish with honesty and transparency. The resources provided through PDM belong to the community, and we shall ensure they benefit the right people,” Oyo said.
He called on residents to actively participate in monitoring the programme and report any concerns that could undermine its success.
The Parish Development Model was introduced by the government in 2022 as a strategy to move households from subsistence production into the money economy through organised parish-level interventions.
The programme provides financial support to selected households to engage in productive activities aimed at improving incomes and livelihoods.
For Lamwo, authorities say effective accountability, proper training and community involvement will be essential in ensuring that the next phase of PDM delivers meaningful economic transformation for households across the district.
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