NEWS- Locals from Katakwi District in the eastern part of Uganda are in limbo following the confusion from some leaders pressing the government not to offer Parish Development Model cash to the communities that seat in the 2017 newly created parishes, saying they are all ghosts.
Among the parishes affected are; Aminit, Orimon and Okore in Okore sub county, Ngariam County while in Toroma county, Angisa in Magoro sub county and in Ngariam sub county Oedepus and Osep respectively.
The former aspirant for Ngariam County, Augustine Otuko is among the few elements uncomfortable with the poor parishes saying they were created by Minister Peter Ogwang and former District council of Hon. Walter Elakas to rig the general election of 2021.
“This is public information that everyone should know, go and ask RDC, LC5 and CAO” Otuko said this in a phone interview on Friday 19th of January 2021.
According to president Museveni, PDM is the only the government magic bullet that will chase poverty from the vulnerable Ugandans if embraced well. But information indicated that, in Katakwi, the enemies of progress have started castigating the parishes that are to benefit from the program as ghosts.
In 2021 general elections, the State Minister for education and sports (SPORT) Hon. Peter Ogwang garnered 16,278 votes against his rival Augustine Otuko who came second with 1,954 votes only.
Charles Ikabat the Okore Sub County boss rubbished the claims saying that its false information that people should not take it seriously because it’s cheap Politicking adding that, his administrative unity has a total of over ten thousand occupants doing different economic activities.
Ikabat added that, “why didn’t they talk about other sub counties that were created like; Okulonyo, Guyaguya in Usuk county and Amusia, Angodingod in Toroma county adding it’s just politics of shame”.
While at Ocwin primary school in Okore Sub County, Richard Opio Edeket the Katakwi District NRM chairperson said, conflicts within leaders might affect the Party strength in the Forth-coming 2026-2031 General elections.
‘‘Where have the people who voted disappeared again? Honestly, is denying our people PDM the reward for Voting NRM? Papa president must know that Local Politics of Katakwi are duping his party in the forthcoming Election’’, Edeket said.
The residents have wondered as to why they are Called ghosts yet they have always participated in other government initiatives like the recent distribution of nets, cancer screening, EMYOOGA, youth livelihood, UWEP among others, adding that they have been abandoned.
Okore sub-county is located at the extreme ends of the district in the east, bordering Karamoja and the locals shifted to the nearby communities because of insecurity as the Karamojong could disturb them with cattle rustling.
However, a barracks of over 30 UPDF soldiers has been put up in Okore and occupants have started resettling at their places of residence and the construction is ongoing currently.
Geoffrey Omolo the Katakwi district boss says they have written a report to the Centre to confirm these Parishes in order to fix this problem. The report from the electoral commission indicates that Okore Sub County has a total of 8 polling stations with alleged ghost parishes inclusive.
Peter Isabirye, Katakwi district Deputy Registrar for electoral commission says, they are aware of the existence of these parishes noting that the sub county has 43 villages, all functioning, and expect a big turn up of people during the registration for the forth-coming general election.
Meanwhile Minister Peter Ogwang, the Ngariam County Legislator quashed the allegation saying, there are no Ghost Parishes in Okore adding that he is going to fight towards ensuring that the affected people benefit from the ongoing government PDM program. Ogwang added that he is not going to entertain anyone ready to disrupt the intentions of the government in ensuring development in the county.
“If people in that belt refused to vote for you, it should not be the reason you start making false alarms and allegations. That’s not leadership” Ogwang bitterly responds.
He said that they have tried to fight the establishment of many government programs in his constituency like seed schools, upgrade of health centres and others but they have failed. Currently the disbursement of Ugx 107 Million per parish of PDM in Katakwi is at 97-98%.
