The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has urged government ministries and agencies to intensify the monitoring of poverty eradication programs to ensure that funds reach their intended beneficiaries.
Speaking at the reading of the 2025/2026 national budget at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Speaker Among emphasized the urgent need for accountability and transparency in the implementation of key wealth creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and EMYOOGA.
“There is need to strengthen oversight over wealth creation funds like PDM so that they actually reach the intended beneficiaries,” said Speaker Among.
She warned accounting officers and vote controllers against financial mismanagement, calling for prudent use of public resources. Among further stressed that any supplementary expenditure should be in strict accordance with Section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act.
“Let us ensure financial discipline and avoid unnecessary supplementary budgets. Public funds must be managed in a frugal, efficient, and effective manner,” she added.
The theme for the 2025/2026 budget is: “Full monetization of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialization, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation and market access.”
Speaker Among’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the mismanagement of anti-poverty programs. Several officials have recently been arrested over alleged abuse of PDM, UWEP, and EMYOOGA funds, raising questions about the effectiveness of current monitoring mechanisms.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during a recent tour of the Luwero sub-region, also weighed in on the matter, calling on citizens to safeguard PDM funds and ensure they are not misused.
With Uganda’s economy still recovering from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and global inflationary pressures, poverty alleviation programs remain central to government strategy. However, their success hinges on integrity, transparency, and consistent oversight.
