KWANIA, October 4, 2024 — Kwania district authorities have disbursed a total of Shs 10.148 billion to the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [ PDM ], a government initiative launched in February 2022 to support the active poor across the country.
This announcement was made during a community meeting organised by the National Resistance Movement [NRM] Secretariat in Nambieso Subcounty, and attended by the party’s Secretary General, Richard Todwong, along with Kwania district officials.
Speaking during the meeting, Catherine Akello, Kwania District Principal Commercial Officer and PDM Focal Point Person, expressed gratitude for the funds allocated to the district for the programme. “In the financial year 2021/2022, the government provided Shs 348,189,541, and in the following two financial years—2022/2023 and 2023/2024—it sent Shs 4.9 billion respectively, with each parish in the district receiving Shs 100 million,” Akello stated.
She explained that the district has effectively distributed these funds by adhering to the programme’s guidelines, which mandate the formation of PDM Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [SACCOs] and enterprise groups, while prohibiting the registration of affluent individuals and civil servants as beneficiaries.
“The PDM SACCO leaders were democratically elected, and we formed enterprise groups collaboratively, which greatly facilitated the mobilisation process,” Akello added.
However, despite mobilising a total of 20,406 individuals, Akello said only half have received funds from the programme. The government allocates over a trillion shillings each financial year for the PDM, ensuring that each of the 10,594 parishes receives Shs 100mln for disbursement to enterprise groups engaged in dairy farming, piggery, poultry keeping, coffee growing, banana growing, and fruit growing among others.
In his remarks, Todwong praised the government for launching a programme that allows beneficiaries to receive direct funding for income-generating projects aimed at alleviating poverty in targeted households.
He added: “I am thrilled that Kwania district has disbursed over Shs 10 billion. This is remarkable. In my lifetime, I have never seen a government provide such a substantial amount to individuals.”
Todwong said that more funds would be available under the PDM to continue the fight against poverty. The programme aims to transition 3.5 million households in the country from subsistence to a cash economy.
He urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, emphasising that they should invest the money in the intended projects.
Kwania District comprises 49 parishes from which 49 PDM SACCOs have been established with a total of 1,364 enterprise groups. So far, 10,203 individuals in the district have benefited from the programme.
https://thecooperator.news/kabarole-pdm-sacco-members-protest-delayed-release-of-funds/
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