The World Bank has injected US$ 50 Million (around 170 billion Uganda Shillings) to support smallholder farmers in Acholi sub region in a bid to increase productivity in the sub region.
The fund which was approved by parliament in May last year after the government requested to borrow over 170 billion Shillings) from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to finance the project.
Government is also expected to contribute around US$ 10 Million putting the total figure of the whole project at around US$ 71 Million.
Under the World Bank Project for Restoration of Livelihoods in the Northern Region (PRELNOR) which is being financed through IFAD, at least 140,000 rural households in all the seven districts of the Acholi sub region and Adjumani district are set to benefit to increase their production, increase income, improve access to domestic and foreign markets and reduce vulnerability of poor rural households.
In Gulu district alone, 100 villages from the four Sub Counties of Palaro, Bungatira, Paicho and Lalogi in the new Omoro district are set to benefit from the multibillion shillings project.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District LCV Chairperson said on Friday last week that if successfully implemented, the project will have a significant impact in the lives of the communities in Gulu.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kilak South County in Amuru district, Gilbert Olanya called for strict monitoring of the fund if it is to benefit beneficiaries.
MP Olanya noted that in order to ensure that the project meets its set objectives and help to develop the sub region which bore the brand of LRA led insurgency, all avenues should be explored so that the money is not stolen like it was the case with the Peace, Recovery and Development Programme (PRDP).
The legislator says despite government and other development agencies injecting billions of shillings in an effort to address post conflict needs in Acholi, the impact has not been felt by local communities.
The multi-billion shillings project will be implemented by the Ministry of Local Government over a period of seven years.
While considerable resources have been invested in the north under PRDP, recent studies by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicate that the level of poverty northern Uganda is still high compared to other regions.
According to National Social Protection Policy 2013 report, although 20 percent of Ugandan population live in northern Uganda, it accounts for the 35 percent of the poorest in the country. It further estimates that 26 percent of chronically poor live in northern Uganda.
