NRM treasurer Ambassador Barbara Nekesa has cautioned beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) against using the funds to buy smartphones and other non-essential consumer goods.
Nekesa said PDM funds are intended to help households increase their incomes through productive ventures such as agriculture, livestock, poultry and small businesses.
“PDM money is not for buying smartphones. It is meant to create wealth and fight poverty at the household level,” Nekesa said.
She made the remarks over the weekend while visiting Wasawa Farm in Mayombe Village, Busia District, where she interacted with farmers and inspected agricultural activities supported under the PDM programme.
Nekesa warned that diverting the funds to consumption could undermine the government’s efforts to eradicate household poverty and deprive beneficiaries of an opportunity to improve their livelihoods.
She urged beneficiaries to prioritise investments that can generate income and provide long-term economic benefits rather than spending the money on temporary consumer goods.
The NRM treasurer also called on local leaders, parish chiefs and community monitors to strengthen supervision of PDM beneficiaries to ensure the funds are used for their intended purpose.
She commended President Museveni for initiating the PDM, describing it as a government strategy aimed at tackling household poverty by providing capital to communities at parish level.
Nekesa said the success of the programme depends largely on beneficiaries’ ability to invest the funds in productive activities.
She observed that some beneficiaries have diverted the money to what she described as unnecessary purchases, warning that such practices could frustrate the objectives of the programme.
Government officials accompanying, Nekesa said proper utilisation of PDM funds and adherence to programme guidelines remain critical to achieving the initiative’s goal of transforming households economically.
The government has continued to emphasise accountability and monitoring under the PDM to ensure funds are directed towards wealth creation and income-generating activities at the grassroots.
