KIKUUBE, September 22, 2026 — Farmers who were yet to benefit from the Parish Development Model [PDM] in Kikuube district have a reason to smile after the Government released Shs1.29 billion to be disbursed to them through their PDM SACCOs.
The PDM is a government initiative launched in February 2022 to move 3.5 million households in Uganda from subsistence to the money economy.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive Shs 1mln each in the form of a soft loan to invest in selected enterprises such as piggery, poultry keeping, fruit growing and dairy farming, among others.
Barnabus Ntume, the Kikuube district senior production officer and PDM focal person, said the district received Shs 1.29 billion in June, at the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
He said the money is intended to support farmers to manage their gardens during the second season of 2026, as well as beneficiaries involved in other enterprises such as poultry and piggery.
Ntume said the funds were transferred to PDM SACCO accounts and will benefit 1,290 new beneficiaries from 29 parishes in five sub-counties and two town councils.
He added that each parish will receive Shs 50mln for disbursement to the targeted beneficiaries.
Ntume said new resolutions containing the names of three signatories for each PDM SACCO had been submitted to the Registrar of Cooperatives in Kampala and approved.
He said the training of the signatories and beneficiaries had already been completed, with the remaining step being to update the new signatories in the system so that the funds can be disbursed.
“We have completed training of beneficiaries and the signatories. You know SACCOs elected new signatories who were approved, and they are only waiting to be updated in the system because the banks are not aware of them. The only remaining issue is feeding the new signatories into the system, and after this the money will be disbursed to beneficiaries,” he said.
Edward Musingye, the Kikuube District Chief Administrative Officer, said the district had conducted a series of sensitisation sessions and training on the proper use of PDM funds.
He appealed to beneficiaries to use the money wisely and responsibly, noting that it is a revolving fund intended to benefit other people in the fight against poverty.
According to Musingye, the PDM is a game-changer that will enable residents in the district and the country at large to transition from subsistence to a money economy if properly and wisely embraced.
He noted that since the programme started, the district has received Shs10 billion under the PDM, with each beneficiary accessing Shs 1 million in the form of a soft loan to invest in selected income-generating enterprises such as piggery, poultry keeping, fruit growing, coffee and dairy farming.
“The disbursement reflects the government’s commitment to uplift Ugandans out of poverty and transition them into the money economy. Many beneficiaries who have utilised the funds as intended are already earning income and improving their household livelihoods,” he said.
Christine Atuhura, a beneficiary from Kabwoya Subcounty, expressed concern over the delayed disbursement of the funds, saying beneficiaries had applied for the money to support their activities during the current season, which is already well underway.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-rdc-assistant-arrested-over-alleged-misappropriation-of-pdm-funds/
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