Summary:
- President Museveni emphasized that documenting beneficiaries would enhance the integrity and impact of the program, ensuring its role in poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.
MANAFWA: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on leaders, particularly chairpersons and sub-county chiefs, to document beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to help the government track its implementation and effectiveness.
“You should record data on beneficiaries (families) per parish so that we know how many people are benefiting from PDM,” said President Museveni. “The plan is to give Shs 100 million to 100 homesteads per year. In three years, we will cover 300 homesteads. By the third year, those who received the Shs 1 million will begin repaying it. In five years, each parish bank will have Shs 500 million plus an additional Shs 300 million in repayments, totaling Shs 800 million. Over two terms, a parish will have Shs 1.6 billion available.”
President Museveni made the remarks on December 17, 2024, while visiting the home of Mr. John Namukhono, a PDM beneficiary in Busituma 1 Village, Makenya Parish, Manafwa District.
President Museveni emphasized that documenting beneficiaries would enhance the integrity and impact of the program, ensuring its role in poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.
“We may even decide to increase borrowing limits to Shs 3 million,” he said. “This is your money; it will never return to the government. Over 15 years (three political terms), parishes will have enough money to eliminate reliance on high-interest moneylenders or banks.”
President Museveni praised Mr. Namukhono, who had effectively utilized Shs 990,000 of PDM funds received in October 2023. With the funds, he bought a heifer and two pigs.
Six months later, he sold the cow for Shs 1.2 million and reinvested the proceeds, purchasing an in-calf cow that now provides five liters of milk daily.
In support of his efforts, the President gave Mr. Namukhono Shs 12 million to expand his dairy project.
“I am glad he responded to our message of escaping poverty,” said the President, contrasting PDM’s success with past poverty alleviation initiatives like Entandikwa, NAADS, and Operation Wealth Creation.
President Museveni also visited Mr. Moses Kutosi in Shanemba Village, Bududa District. Mr. Kutosi received Shs 980,000 through PDM in 2023, investing in piggery.
His initial three pigs multiplied, allowing him to sell offspring and eventually buy a heifer that now produces four liters of milk daily, earning him Shs 112,000 monthly.
However, Mr. Kutosi highlighted challenges such as the high cost of animal feed. In response, the President directed the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) to establish regional feed production centers for affordable access.
President Museveni also cautioned PDM beneficiaries against dividing land among family members, recommending wealth distribution through shares instead.
The PDM aims to eradicate poverty by leveraging parishes as the operational hubs for planning and development. It addresses grassroots production, financial inclusion, and service delivery to foster sustainable socio-economic transformation.
