Gulu fails to recover PDM funds when beneficiaries die

6 November 2025, 12:23 am

Gift Okello

Gulu District authorities have raised concerns over the recovery of Parish Development Model funds after learning that some beneficiaries who received money two years ago have since passed away.

Speaking to our reporter on Tuesday, the District Commercial Officer, Alfred Ocen, said the development poses a major challenge to the recovery process and threatens the revolving nature of the fund, which is meant to support other community projects.

He noted that the deaths of beneficiaries have made it difficult to track repayments and sustain the fund’s intended impact.

Despite the challenge, Ocen said the district has registered success stories from funded projects, including goat rearing, piggery, and crop farming.

So far, each parish in Gulu District has received about 307 million shillings, bringing the total amount in circulation to roughly 14 billion shillings.

Ocen added that the repayment period for early beneficiaries has now begun and urged them to start paying back the funds to ensure the program remains sustainable and benefits more households.