Minister decries low uptake of PDM funds among PWDs and older persons

LIRA, September 15, 2025 – The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, has raised concerns over the low uptake of funds allocated to Persons with Disabilities [PWDs] and older persons under the Parish Development Model [ PDM ].

According to a recent report from her ministry, up to 80 percent of the funds earmarked for these vulnerable groups remain unutilised, despite each group being entitled to 10 percent of the total PDM funds.

While assessing the implementation of the National Special Grants for Older Persons and the Special Grants for Persons with Disabilities in Lira City on Thursday, Amongi noted that the government had reserved a combined 20 percent of the programme’s funds for these categories, but many intended beneficiaries had not accessed the support.

“The data we have shows that despite the government’s efforts to empower these groups, they are not fully utilising the funds set aside for them,” she said.

“This is an area of concern for us, as we want to ensure that every Ugandan, especially the vulnerable, benefits from these initiatives.”

Amongi revealed that a proposal had been put forward by her ministry to consider redirecting some of the unutilised PDM funds into the Special Grants for Older Persons.

“This proposal has been discussed in Cabinet,” she said. “A committee chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has been instituted to explore mechanisms for either continuing with the current structure or merging the funding streams under the special grant for older persons.”

The Minister noted that while the components of PDM targeting women and youth are generally progressing well, the uptake among older persons and PWDs remains comparatively low.

However, she praised the performance of PDM-related projects in Lira City, particularly those involving persons with disabilities.

“I have found that persons with disabilities are very honest people,” she said. “The majority have utilised the funds appropriately, engaging in income-generating activities such as goat rearing and piggery.”

Launched in 2022 by President Yoweri Museveni, the PDM is designed to transition the 39 percent of Ugandans engaged in the subsistence economy into commercial, income-generating ventures. Under the programme, each of Uganda’s 10,594 parishes receives Shs 100 million annually as a revolving fund.

The government also allocated 30 percent of the funds to youth and another 30 percent to women, although these groups have also reported challenges in accessing the funds as planned.

Amongi further noted that some parishes face difficulties identifying eligible persons with disabilities to apply for the funds, suggesting the actual number of beneficiaries may be lower than initially estimated.

In response to these issues, local leaders voiced their concerns.

Billton Opio, Chairperson of the Elderly in Lira City, said older persons continue to struggle with accessing the PDM funds.

“Access to PDM is still a major challenge, especially for older persons,” he said. “There is a need for government intervention, as many are not benefiting from the programme.”

Meanwhile, Tonny Obong, a representative of persons with disabilities in Lira City West Division and a beneficiary of the Special Grants for Persons with Disabilities, commended the government initiative, saying it had significantly improved his livelihood.

“This project has changed my life,” he said. “However, access to the PDM remains a challenge because many PWDs are not even aware that a specific percentage of the funds is allocated to them.”

https://thecooperator.news/gulu-pwds-struggling-to-access-pdm-funds/

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