ALEBTONG, August 19, 2025 – – The Resident District Commissioner [RDC] of Alebtong, Geoffrey Okiswa, has urged persons with disabilities [ PWDs ] in the district to take advantage of the Parish Development Model [PDM] to transform their livelihoods.
The PDM, launched in February 2022, is a government initiative that aims to transition 16 million Ugandans from subsistence farming to the money economy through investment in agricultural value chains.
Under the initiative, government has earmarked 30 percent of the funds for women, 30 percent for youth, 10 percent for PWDs, 10 percent for the elderly, and the remaining 20 percent for other vulnerable groups. Each beneficiary receives a soft loan of Shs 1 million, which can be invested in enterprises such as coffee, piggery, poultry, dairy farming, banana cultivation, among others.
Speaking in Amugo Sub-county on Wednesday, Okiswa encouraged PWDs to also engage in other government poverty alleviation programmes, such as the Youth Livelihood Programme and Emyooga, to build sustainable incomes.
“Make sure you get the money because it is yours, and use it properly,” he urged, during the handover of 30 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities in Ajuri County.
The wheelchairs were donated by the Government Chief Whip and area Member of Parliament, Denis Hamson Obua, as part of his ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and improve the quality of life for vulnerable members of the community.
“Nobody should cheat you, especially in the PDM and Emyooga programmes. There are individuals who may try to take advantage of others,” Okiswa cautioned.
On his part, Obua said the donation was a demonstration of his commitment to uplifting vulnerable groups.
“A society is only as strong as its ability to care for its most vulnerable members. These wheelchairs are not just tools for mobility; they are an investment in dignity, opportunity, and self-reliance,” he stated.
Denis Okello, Chairperson of the PWDs in Ajuri, expressed gratitude to the government for recognising and supporting their needs.
He also thanked Obua for the donation, noting that it would greatly enhance the beneficiaries’ mobility and quality of life.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-transforms-lives-of-pwds-in-lira-city/
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