PDM SACCOs in Lira acquire office space to ease operations

LIRA, June 16, 2026 — At least four Parish Development Model Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [ PDM SACCOs ] in Lira district have acquired office space to improve operations and better serve the public better.

The SACCOs include Banya Amach Town Council PDM SACCO in Amach Town Council, Arwot-Omito Ayami PDM SACCO in Ayami Sub-county, Abunga Bar PDM SACCO in Bar Sub-county, and Olilo Itek PDM SACCO in Itek Sub-county.

Speaking to this reporter recently, Michael Okello, the Lira District PDM Focal Person, said having office space makes the SACCOs more visible and accessible while enabling them to serve the public more effectively.

“Accessing the leaders becomes easier because they have a permanent location where members can find them together with all their documents. This will also ease the recovery process of the funds,” he added.

Okello said the acquisition of offices by the four PDM SACCOs marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the programme.

He noted that several other PDM SACCOs in the district still operate under trees when conducting meetings and carrying out other activities, a situation that negatively affects record keeping, which is essential for business growth and sustainability.

“As a requirement, every SACCO should have an office. Therefore, this is a success in the implementation of the PDM programme and reflects the efforts made by the SACCO leaders. Currently, some SACCOs still operate under trees, making proper record keeping a challenge,” Okello said.

Vicky Apio, the Vice Chairperson of Banya Amach Town Council PDM SACCO, explained that income generated through transactions with suppliers enabled the SACCO to rent office space.

“The suppliers who bring items such as seeds, chicks and piglets for our members to buy always give the SACCO a small percentage for connecting them with customers. We accumulated that money and have now opened our office so that we can keep our documents safely and manage SACCO business effectively. We did not collect money from members,” Apio explained.

Apio said the office would not only improve document storage but also provide shelter during adverse weather conditions.

“We used to hold meetings under trees at Ateri Primary School here in Banya, and it was difficult during the rainy season. Now everything is sorted because even when it rains, we can still conduct our meetings in the office,” Apio said.

Patrick Olobo, the newly elected Mayor of Amach Town Council and former Vice Chairperson of Ayac Amach Town Council PDM SACCO, said the SACCO plans to open its office in July as earlier scheduled.

“When I was still the vice chairperson of the SACCO, we planned to establish an office, and I believe that by the end of July the SACCO will be operating from office space,” Olobo said.

The PDM is a government inititiative launched in February 2022 to move 3.5 million households from the subsistence to the money economy. Under the programme, government sends Shs 100 million to all parishes in Uganda for the beneficiaries to utilise and develop economically.

https://thecooperator.news/pdm-saccos-urged-to-embrace-a-saving-culture-for-sustainability/

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