Lango leaders urge gov’t to increase PDM funding to Shs 200mln per parish
Launched in February 2022, the PDM provides each beneficiary with a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in selected enterprises such as coffee growing, fish farming, piggery, poultry, and dairy farming, among others
OTUKE, April 30, 2025 — Leaders in the Lango Subregion have called on the government to increase the Parish Development Model [ PDM ] funds from the current Shs 100 million to Shs 200 million per parish, arguing that the existing amount is insufficient to lift beneficiaries out of poverty.
The leaders believe that increasing the funds would expand the number of beneficiaries, enhance agricultural production, and accelerate socioeconomic transformation across the country.
Launched in February 2022, the PDM provides each beneficiary with a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in selected enterprises such as coffee growing, fish farming, piggery, poultry, and dairy farming, among others.
Otuke County Member of Parliament, Paul Omara, stated that communities had been mobilised to embrace the PDM and Emyooga programmes, which aim to transform livelihoods through wealth and job creation.
“Our major task in the next term is to ensure that the government increases PDM funding, as demand is growing by the day,” Omara said while outlining his priorities for the 12th Parliament, should he be re-elected in the 2026 general elections.
Government introduced the PDM to boost household incomes and improve the quality of life for Ugandans, with a specific focus on transitioning 3.5 million households from subsistence to market economies. Currently, Shs 100 million is disbursed annually to each of the 10,594 parishes across the country, an investment totalling over Shs 1 trillion per financial year.
David Kennedy Odongo, the LC5 Chairperson of Alebtong district, acknowledged that while the government had injected Shs 21 billion into the district through various wealth creation programmes, there remains a pressing need to increase specific funding for the PDM.
“PDM is one of the best programmes ever introduced by the NRM government, especially for rural communities. It’s the first of its kind since Uganda gained independence in 1962. But it’s underfunded. Shs 100 million is not enough for a parish. It should be increased to Shs 200 million or even Shs 300 million per financial year,” Odongo said.
Voices from the beneficiaries
Padi Obura, Chairperson of Agwtalango PDM SACCO in Adwir Sub-county, shared that he received Shs 980,000, which he used to purchase a dairy cow that has since given birth.
“I would have bought three cows, but the money wasn’t enough. I also needed to cover other related costs,” he noted.
Calvin Obua from Omarari Parish said he used the funds to buy a pig, which later produced seven piglets. He sold each at Shs 70,000, earning Shs 490,000.
“I could have bought more pigs if the funding had been adequate,” he added.
President Yoweri Museveni recently stated that an assessment of how PDM funds are being utilised is underway. Based on its outcomes, the government will consider increasing the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF) to Shs 200 million per parish.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-four-arrested-over-alleged-fraud-in-kiryandongo/
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