Parish chiefs in Kikuube urged to stay at their stations for effective PDM monitoring
KIKUUBE, August 25, 2025 — Parish chiefs in Kikuube district have been urged to remain stationed at their places of work to effectively monitor the implementation of the Parish Development Model [PDM].
The PDM, a government initiative launched in February 2022, aims to transition 3.5 million households from subsistence to the money economy. Under the programme, each parish receives Shs 100 million, with each of the eligible beneficiaries receiving Shs 1 million in the form of a soft loan to invest in enterprises such as piggery, poultry keeping, coffee, fruit growing, and dairy farming, among others.
Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Works and Transport, revealed that Cabinet agreed to provide parish chiefs with monthly facilitation of Shs 100,000 and to procure bicycles to support their field monitoring work.
In response to concerns raised by parish chiefs, who preferred to remain anonymous, Kikuube district Chief Administrative Officer [CAO], Canon Edward Musingye, reminded them that they receive accommodation allowances and should therefore reside within their assigned parishes.
“Government operates in phases, and we are hopeful that transport means will eventually be provided,” Musingye said. “However, the programme must continue in the meantime. Implementers should devise means of reaching the beneficiaries.”
He added: “Previously, they had no accommodation allowance, but now that it is being provided, parish chiefs must sleep at their duty stations. They need to demonstrate zeal and resilience in delivering services to the people.”
Musingye further called on sub-county leadership to support parish chiefs in reaching beneficiaries and raising awareness about proper investment of PDM funds. “Community members [beneficiaries] can also be invited to the parish centres to engage directly with the officials and receive guidance on how to lift themselves out of poverty,” he said.
Since the inception of the PDM, Kikuube district has received over Shs 8.96 billion, benefiting 8,960 individuals across 29 parishes.
Musingye urged local leaders to mobilise and guide beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely so that the programme achieves its goal of poverty eradication.
Parish chiefs receive Shs 100,000 per month in allowances, disbursed quarterly, to support their coordination and monitoring of PDM activities. However, there is currently no dedicated fund to facilitate their transport and fieldwork.
Musingye noted that district leaders are depending on the production and commercial services departments to support monitoring efforts.
He added that the District Executive Committee has recommended that all departmental heads integrate PDM activities into their budgets to mitigate the funding shortfall for programme supervision.
https://thecooperator.news/soroti-rcc-warns-parish-chiefs-others-against-misuse-of-pdm-gadgets/
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