KABALE – The Nakawa Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Sheikh Kasim Kamugisha, has advocated for a dedicated Parish Development Model (PDM) Program aimed at supporting retired religious leaders.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony for the late Vian John Mary, former LC.1 Secretary of Kyeobokyeire Cell in Kijuguta Ward, Northern Division, Kabale Municipality, Sheikh Kasim highlighted the shared challenges faced by religious leaders who, despite contributing to society, do not benefit from existing government programs.
Sheikh Kasim emphasized that these retired religious leaders engage in daily activities like others, such as going to markets, paying school fees, and participating in agriculture.
However, they are not reaping the benefits of initiatives like the Parish Development Model and Emyooga.
He urged residents of Kabale Municipality to press their elected leaders to advocate for the financial inclusion of retired religious leaders in government programs or create a specialized PDM for this demographic.
“We need a Parish Development Model for retired religious leaders,” Sheikh Kasim emphasized, echoing the sentiments of religious leaders who recently expressed disappointment at being excluded from the PDM program.
The government annually allocates substantial loans to beneficiaries in each of the 10,694 parishes in Uganda as part of the PDM, with the goal of transforming 39% of the population from subsistence to a money economy.
Recently, Retired Church of Uganda priests, including Rtd Rev Esau Habomugisha, argued for inclusion in the PDM program due to the absence of post-retirement benefits like pensions or allowances.
Retired Rev. Canon Steven Warren Tirwomwe called on the government to consider tax exemptions for retired clergy unable to benefit from its programs, citing the lack of a systematic arrangement similar to the Catholic Church’s support for its retired priests.
In response, Kabale Deputy RDC Ronald Bakaki clarified that there are no guidelines excluding retired clergy from the PDM, as long as they fall within the 39% category of Ugandans stuck in the subsistence economy. Bakaki encouraged troubled retired clergy to explore PDM loans as a potential avenue for support.
