President Museveni Highlights Accountability and Impact of Parish Development Model During Manafwa Visit
President Yoweri Museveni visited Manafwa District, where he directed local leaders to track and document beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to ensure accountability. He emphasized the goal of providing Shs 100 million annually to 100 homesteads per parish, with repayments creating a revolving fund expected to grow to Shs 800 million within five years.
President Yoweri Museveni was amused with the testimonies from the residents of Mbale District in Bugisu Region
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed local leaders to document beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to enhance accountability and measure the program’s impact. The President emphasized the importance of maintaining accurate data during a visit to Manafwa
“You should record the number of families benefiting from PDM in each parish,” President Museveni said. “The plan is to give Shs 100 million annually to 100 homesteads per parish. By the third year, borrowers will start returning funds, creating a revolving system that grows to Shs 800 million per parish in five years.”
Speaking at the home of John Namukhono, a PDM beneficiary in Busituma 1 Village, Museveni highlighted the program’s potential to foster economic independence at the grassroots level. Namukhono, who received Shs 1 million in 2023, invested in livestock and expanded his enterprise, earning significant profits. The President supported him with Shs 12 million to scale up his dairy farming business.
President Yoweri Museveni at the home of John Namukhono
“I’m glad he responded to our message of getting out of poverty,” Museveni said. He urged leaders to actively engage with their communities to promote the program’s success.
The President noted that PDM has a more structured approach compared to previous poverty alleviation initiatives. He outlined the government’s strategy of allocating Shs 1 million per borrower to fund high-return activities such as piggery, dairy farming, and crop cultivation.
Under the PDM framework, beneficiaries are encouraged to adopt the four-acre model, which focuses on growing coffee, fruits, food crops, and pasture for dairy farming on small plots of land. The model also integrates backyard poultry and fish farming for those in suitable areas.
During his tour, Museveni also visited Moses Kutosi in Bududa District, another PDM beneficiary. Kutosi used Shs 980,000 to purchase pigs, which multiplied and generated income that allowed him to invest in dairy farming. He now earns Shs 112,000 monthly from milk sales. However, he highlighted the high cost of animal feeds as a challenge.
Museveni assured beneficiaries that the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) would establish regional feed production centers to lower costs. He also advised families to avoid land fragmentation, suggesting shared wealth distribution instead.
The PDM, launched to eradicate poverty and drive grassroots development, targets financial inclusion and improved service delivery at the parish level. Officials from the PDM Secretariat, Members of Parliament, and other stakeholders attended the meetings.
The President expressed optimism about the program’s ability to transform communities. “This is your money; don’t misuse it. It is designed to build wealth and free you from moneylenders,” he said.
