LIRA CITY, June 6, 2025 – Persons with disabilities [PWDs], particularly the deaf community in Lira City, are reportedly not benefiting from the Parish Development Model [PDM], prompting calls for inclusive measures to ensure their participation in the government’s poverty alleviation programme.
According to Matthew Omara, Chairperson of the Lira District Union for Persons with Disabilities [LIDUPED], many individuals with hearing impairments in both Lira City and Lira District have missed out on PDM funding due to a significant communication gap.
“We currently have no individuals with hearing impairments benefiting from the PDM due to communication barriers. For other categories of the PWDs, only a few have been able to access the funds,” Omara explained recently.
He appealed to the authorities overseeing PDM implementation to involve sign language interpreters to bridge this gap and facilitate greater inclusion in the government programme meant to fighting household poverty.
“It would be helpful if PDM officials could engage a sign language interpreter, possibly from LIDUPED, to assist those with hearing impairments in understanding the programme, so they too can participate,” he added.
Under PDM guidelines, 10 percent of funds allocated to each parish are earmarked for the PWDs. The remaining funds are distributed among women, youth, the elderly, and the general population.
Lillian Grace Ocare, the Principal Assistant Town Clerk of Lira City and the designated PDM Focal Point Person, confirmed that certain categories of PWDs, especially the blind and deaf—are not benefiting as expected.
“You will agree with me that there are many categories of disabilities, and some are being entirely left out of the PDM. For instance, the blind and the deaf. In some cases, other individuals use their details to access the funds fraudulently,” Ocare noted.
She also highlighted that despite the allocation of 10 percent of PDM funds to PWDs, participation remains low due to a lack of confidence in loan repayment. Each beneficiary of the programme gets Shs 1 million to invest in enterprises like coffee, fish farming, piggery, and poultry keeping among others.
“Some PWDs fear that if their projects fail, they won’t be able to repay the loans. When informed that PDM funds are loans, they often respond, ‘We’d rather wait for a grant’, even though grants may not be sufficient to support their businesses.”
Ocare recommended that the government consider allowing caregivers to manage PDM funds on behalf of PWDs to ensure the intended impact is realised.
According to the most recent census, Lira City and District have a total of 6,707 persons with disabilities. However, only two or three individuals have reportedly benefited from the Parish Development Model to date.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-official-urges-mindset-change-among-leaders-in-mbale-city/
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