The Auditor General, Edward Akol, has revealed that only Shs9.340 billion has so far been recovered from 18,105 beneficiaries across 709 Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) in 30 local governments that began voluntary repayment of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
The recovery relates to the 2022 funding lot, out of a cumulative Shs3.258 trillion released by government to 10,589 PDM SACCOs nationwide.
Akol made the disclosure on Thursday, January 29, 2026, while presenting the December 2025 Annual Audit Report to the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
In the report, he highlighted several challenges affecting the implementation of the PDM, including funding of non-existent (ghost) projects, delays in disbursement to households, implementation of ineligible projects, diversion of funds, and duplicate beneficiaries.
“I noted that of the beneficiaries who received Parish Revolving Funds (PRF) by December 2022, a total of 18,105 beneficiaries in 709 SACCOs across 30 local governments had commenced voluntary recovery, and a sum of Shs9.340 billion had been recovered,” Akol said. “However, there was no evidence of preparedness for recovery in all local governments.”
The Auditor General further revealed that by the end of the 2024/25 financial year, only 84 percent of the funds released had reached households.
“Out of Shs3,258.937 billion released cumulatively by government to 10,589 PDM SACCOs, only Shs2,750.290 billion (84 percent) was disbursed to households, leaving Shs508.646 billion (16 percent) undisbursed,” he noted.
In response, Speaker Anita Among urged the Auditor General to take a firmer stance in auditing PDM funds to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries.
“As we appropriate monies, we want people out there, especially under programmes like the PDM, to benefit. But the problem we have is diversion of these monies. The money does not go to the intended beneficiaries,” Among said.
She added, “Auditor General, we want you to whip. This money should go to the right people. We cannot appropriate funds and then have 70 percent of the beneficiaries being the rich, while the remaining 30 percent get nothing.”
Among defended her strong position, noting that the success stories under the PDM contributed significantly to the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) electoral performance in the recently concluded general elections.
“By the way, most of the votes we got were because of the people who received PDM money rightfully,” she said. “But when you look at this report, you find delays in disbursement, some people receiving money twice while others get nothing, and lack of alignment with parish priorities. These issues can only be uncovered through thorough audits.”
