Lango Web

By James Omara in Lira

The State Minister in charge of Northern Uganda has clarified reports in the media that the Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) is set to be operationalized this financial year.

David Wakikona, while speaking to journalists at Parliament recently, was responding to remarks made by the Prime Minister, Apollo Nsibambi that the Ministry of Finance would allocate 120 billion this financial year 2008/2009 for the project.

The PRDP project is a comprehensive plan by government to eradicate poverty and improve the welfare of the people in Northern Uganda following the 20 year old war between the Lord?s Resistance Army and government.

Wakikona says that although the Ministry of Finance had made some increments in the PRDP funding, there was no indication that supplementary funds had been made hence not being reflected in the budget.

He however says that the project will take off fully in 40 districts starting next year and 14 programs have been earmarked to start the project.

The minister adds that the funds are going to be fully accounted for and the Auditor General's office, district auditors and the existing systems will be used to ensure that all the monies are well spent.

Out of the 1.1 trillion earmarked for the PRDP project, government is to contribute 30% whereas the rest will be funded by donors.