Masindi CAO dismisses claims that her office is hindering micro-project groups from getting funds
According to the Chief Administrative Officer, out of the ten groups, six were declared null and void, while four had irregularities and were not able to receive funds pending investigations.
By Asimu Ayesiga
Masindi: The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Masindi, Phiona Sanyu, has dismissed the claims that her office is hindering a section of micro-project groups from getting funds.
On Wednesday, over 30 members from nine groups stormed the office of the Masindi Municipal Town Clerk over the delayed disbursement of funds from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The groups were supposed to get a grant of 269 million shillings in the last financial year, and this money was disbursed to the district’s account in May this year but hasn’t reached the initial beneficiaries.
During an emergency meeting chaired by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Masindi, Emmy Ngabirano, in his office on Thursday, the CAO Masindi, Phiona Sanyu, dismissed the claims that her office was hindering a section of micro-project groups from getting funds and advised the municipal town clerk, Patrick Asiimwe, to do a fresh verification for the groups to identify their eligibility so that they can benefit from the funds.
‘’My office has never hindered the group members from benefiting from the funds; I wrote to the municipal town clerk to verify the groups if they are in existence and respond back to my office,’’ she clarified.
According to the Chief Administrative Officer, out of the ten groups, six were declared null and void, while four had irregularities and were not able to receive funds pending investigations.
‘’These groups are closer to the municipality and the division; it’s not that I’m pushing them, but I’m respecting boundaries of jurisdiction of administrative nature, which is the problem, so when the town clerk tells me to do satisfactory due diligence, I need enough time,’’ Sanyu added.
In response, the municipal deputy town clerk, Patrick Asiimwe, confirmed that there were some irregularities cited under the micro-project program and promised to follow the guidelines from the chief administrative officer.
‘’There were some irregularities cited under the microproject program; I followed the guidelines from the chief administrative officer,’’ he said.
The emergency meeting was attended by the Mayor of Masindi Municipality, Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, the Masindi Municipal Deputy Town Clerk, Patrick Asiimwe, and the district chairman, Cosmas Byaruhanga, to forge the way forward over the delayed disbursement of the funds to the said groups.
Some of the groups that missed receiving the funds include Byamukama Farmers Group in Karujubu Division, Mbazira Savings and Credit Group, Triumph Pool Team Association, and others.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Masindi Municipal Mayor, Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, clarified that though the group members are from the municipality, they applied for the funds through the district, noting that all the groups that applied through the municipality got their funds.
He, however, pledged to follow up on the issue and ensure the group members received their funds.
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