Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Office of the Prime Minister David Wakikona of Uganda

Head of the study and Northern Uganda's Minister of State for Rehabilitation Hon David Wakikona expressed happiness over the changes in the lives of people brought out through DPIP in villages, an official release said here today.

Mr Wakikona said the programme has stemmed migration of people from villages to urban areas in search for jobs by providing them livelihood in villages itself.

Study team's head and Northern Uganda's Minister of State for Rehabilitation Hon David Wakikona said that he was very much pleased after witnessing betterment of villages through change in lives of people through DPIP.

Wakikona said mobilising groups in the form of a federation under DPIP and then forming of village uplift committees and producer companies is like a great motivator.

Mr Wakikona said the government has already met the mandatory 30 per cent of the $606 million for the programme that will benefit Lango, Acholi, Karamoja, Teso and Elgon regions in the country.

Mr Wakikona was on Monday addressing Karamoja region leaders and technical staff at the opening of North East sub-region sensitisation and planning workshop for PRDP.

Children should not be a burden but a source of pride for families,” Mr Wakikona was on Monday officiating at the Manafwa District celebrations to mark the Day of the African child at Butiru Sub-county headquarters.

Mr Wakikona said whereas under the Constitution the children’s statute provides for protection of children’s rights, it was important for parents, leaders and guardians of children at all levels to guide the young generation to become responsible citizens that the country will be proud of.

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.

Wakikona says that Gulu district was noted to have not accounted for 1.

Wakikona says that government is going to include district stakeholders in the next phase of NUSAF so that these leaders can help in accountability of funds and also identify potential projects to be funded.