Tenants Demand Equal Access to Government Programs
By: Mujungu Betty
Residents of rented premises and elderly citizens in Butebe ward, north division Fort portal city have raised concerns over the exclusion they face during the implementation of government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
During a Public service delivery community dialogue organized by Voice of Toro radio in partnership with the office of the Mayor of Fort Portal City, the residents expressed frustration over their inability to benefit from the PDM, particularly tenants who were denied access to funds meant to support local enterprises.
Kabajwisa Christine, a resident of Butebe, said the exclusion of tenants from PDM funding is so discriminatory.
“All people who live in rented premises here in Butebe who applied for PDM money were denied the funds. we were told that the money was meant only for landlords,” Christine said. “This left us wondering, does being a tenant mean we lose the right to benefit from government programs? And yet, during elections, we are encouraged to vote and fulfill our constitutional rights.”
The LC2 Chairperson of Butebe Ward, Mr. Sam Kahiigwa, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Parish Development Model Committee, acknowledged that tenants in Butebe missed out on PDM funds in the first two phases.
“It is true that tenants in Butebe missed out on the PDM money in the last two phases,” Kahiigwa said. “This is because the enterprises initially selected during the PDM community mobilization meetings were farm-based, requiring large pieces of land, such as dairy farming, piggery, fish farming, and vegetable growing.”
However, Kahiigwa assured the community that efforts were being made to address the issue. “The good news is that in the last meeting, after consultations with the production officer and the Deputy Resident City Commissioner, the meeting resolved that the next PDM phases will also consider produce enterprise, which is more flexible and convenient for people in rented premises who are engaged in produce businesses.”
Inclusivity
Stanley Businge, the Production Officer and PDM focal person for Fort Portal City, confirmed that the issues faced by tenants in Butebe were being addressed in the upcoming phases of the program.
” Butebe ward is one of those where tenants did not benefit from the PDM because of their choice of enterprises,” Businge said. “However, we have already considered produce enterprise in the next phase to ensure that tenants, like those in other town wards such as Bazaar and Rwengoma, will also benefit from the program.”
Kabajwara Margaret the Secretary for Community based services Fort portal city said it is deeply concerning that tenants in some wards have been left out in the Parish Development Model (PDM) phase 1 and 2 due to some restrictions.
‘‘being a tenant does not disqualify anyone from accessing government programs, i encourage the people to always speak out, and inform their leaders at all levels if such exclusions happen so that no one is left behind’’ Kabajwara stated.