Government urged to include clergy in PDM
BUNDIBUGYO, August 28, 2025 — The Bishop of West Ruwenzori diocese, Rt. Rev. Barnabas Tibaijuka has urged the government to extend support to religious leaders, saying they have been left out of key national development initiatives such as Parish Development Model [PDM] and Emyooga.
Speaking to our reporter recently at the diocesan headquarters in Bumadu Bundibugyo district, Tibaijuka noted that while religious leaders play a vital role in uplifting communities, they are overlooked in government programmes.
“The PDM policy says you give money to the poor, but when they see us driving cars or motorcycles, they think that we are well-off yet we survive only through the mercy of Christians,” he said.
The PDM is a flagship government programme aimed at lifting Ugandans out of poverty at the parish level through enterprise development and improved service delivery.
However, Bishop Tibaijuka lamented that many religious leaders, particularly in rural dioceses, have been sidelined despite their grassroots influence.
“It is not good for the congregation to be rich while the reverend remains poor. When you give a blessing and those you bless are wealthier than you, some may think their God is greater than yours,” he said.
The Bishop appealed to the government to consider supporting the diocesan Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation [SACCO] which was formed to empower clergy economically in the absence of direct benefits from government programs.
About PDM
Launched in February 2022, the PDM aims to benefit 39 percent of the active poor in Uganda and help them escape poverty by improving their household incomes through commercial production. Enterprises such as dairy, coffee, bananas, piggery, grains, cereals and fish farming are targeted.
PDM is a strategy for organising and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit for planning, budgeting, reporting and delivering interventions by both state and non-state actors.
The parish is the focal point for multi-sectoral community development, implementation, supervision, monitoring, and accountability.
The LCII Chairperson and the parish chief are responsible for political leadership in the implementation of the parish model, with support from the sub county and district technical planning committees.
Tibaijuka also highlighted key achievements of the diocese since its establishment in 2023. These include the creation of new parishes, construction of health and education facilities, and expansion of youth and women empowerment initiatives.
He credited these strides to community support and divine guidance but stressed that more could be realised with stronger government collaboration.
“Religious institutions have consistently supported government programs in health, education and peace building, especially in conflict-prone areas. We walk with the people every day, we know their struggles. If government truly wants to reach the last mile, religious leaders should not be left behind,” he emphasised.
Adding, “Our work goes beyond the pulpit. Religious leaders are at the forefront of education, health, conflict resolution and community empowerment. With government support, we can do even more.”
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