LIRA, May 16, 2026 — Lira City Mayor Sam Atul has praised the government for introducing the Parish Development Model [PDM], saying the programme, which was launched in 2022, is making a significant contribution to improving household incomes and livelihoods.
Speaking during the Second Research Dissemination Conference at Lira University recently, Atul revealed that since the launch of the programme, Lira City has received and disbursed more than Shs14 billion to over 10,000 beneficiaries.
He urged researchers to assess the actual impact of the programme, particularly whether it is promoting peace within households and contributing to long-term economic transformation.
“We have the PDM and cattle compensation programme, but do they bring peace in homes or not? We want to know whether they will translate into economic transformation. Can they help us regain our position as a key supplier of dairy products in the country? These are some of the research questions that should be explored and shared with us,” Atul said.
The mayor also commended President Yoweri Museveni for initiating the programme, which gives each beneficiary a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in enterprises such as coffee growing, piggery, banana farming, fish farming and apiary, among others.
He noted that when the PDM was introduced, many critics doubted its success and predicted it would fail like previous government interventions.
“Some people thought PDM was just another political slogan. But today, nearly Shs 14bln has been injected into Lira City. The money came, and it was given to the people,” Atul said.
Beneficiary testimony
Patrick Ogwal, a resident of Barogole Ward and one of the beneficiaries, said he received Shs 1mln under the programme two years ago and invested the funds in piggery.
According to Ogwal, he purchased four piglets [three females and one male], for Shs400,000. The pigs later produced 24 piglets, which he sold for a total of Shs 2.4mln.
He said the project has had a positive impact on his household income but appealed to the government to increase the amount given to each beneficiary from Shs 1mln to Shs 2mln.
“PDM is creating a lot of impact in our communities, but the government should consider increasing the funding to Shs 2mln per beneficiary,” Ogwal said of the government’s financial inclusion programme.
Funded to the tune of more than Shs1 trillion every financial year, the PDM aims to move 3.5mln Ugandan households from subsistence farming into the money economy. Under the programme, each parish in Uganda receives Shs 100mln annually to disburse to beneficiaries, although the government has indicated that this could be increased to Shs 200mln to create more impact in the communities.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-city-schools-receive-coffee-seedlings-to-support-practical-learning/
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