KASESE, 13 May 2025 – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised Perucy Biira, a visually impaired poultry farmer in Kasese District, for transforming her life through the government’s Parish Development Model [ PDM ], a government initiative aimed at eradicating household poverty in the country.
Biira, 86, a resident of Kizungu Cell in Nyakasanga I Ward, Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality, operates a thriving poultry enterprise with 750 birds, earning a stable and substantial income from her business.
During his presidential tour of the Rwenzori Sub-region on Monday to assess the impact of PDM, Museveni commended Biira for embracing the government’s vision of self-reliance and income generation.
“This has been my message since the 1960s in Nyabushozi, where I encouraged the people of the Ankole Sub-region to settle down and rear dairy cows. We later integrated this into our NRM manifesto through the four-acre model,” Museveni said.
He reiterated that government programmes such as PDM and Emyooga are intended to lift ordinary Ugandans out of poverty and emphasised that the funds allocated belong to the people themselves.
“I urge leaders to follow up on these funds. If you do not, you are failing both yourselves and the government. Our goal is to see people rise out of poverty. I also appeal to the beneficiaries to use the money appropriately,” he added.
In a show of support, Museveni contributed Shs 20 million to help Biira fence her poultry farm and acquire transportation to facilitate her operations.
Crackdown on local crime
While addressing residents at the event, Museveni criticised the police for releasing criminals on bond and vowed to take action against officers who fail to protect communities.
“Any police officer who grants bond to thieves will be arrested,” he warned. He further emphasised that elected local leaders, including LC3 and LCV chairpersons, must take greater responsibility in resolving issues within their communities.
A Story of resilience and transformation
Visibly emotional, Biira expressed heartfelt gratitude to the President for initiating the PDM programme, which she said had restored dignity to her life.
“I used to be a beggar, but through PDM, I can now meet my needs, access medical treatment, and run a business that brings me respect. I received Shs 1 million and started with 200 birds. Today, I have 750,” she shared.
Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga, applauded Biira’s resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, noting that the PDM programme is transforming lives not only in Kasese but across the country.
Empowering more farmers
In Ntoroko District, President Museveni visited another beneficiary, Steven Kisembo, 34, a resident of Kisungu II Cell, West Ward in Kibuku Town Council. Kisembo, who is engaged in goat rearing, received Shs 980,000 under PDM and used it to purchase four goats, which have since multiplied to 20. Impressed by his progress, the President extended an additional Shs 10 million to help him expand his enterprise.
President Museveni is currently on a three-day tour of the Rwenzori Sub-region to evaluate the impact of the PDM on rural livelihoods, engage directly with farmers and local leaders, and collect grassroots feedback to improve the programme’s implementation.
He is scheduled to continue the tour in the Tooro Sub-region from 15–18 May for a similar mission.
About the PDM
Launched in February 2022, the Parish Development Model seeks to benefit 39 percent of Uganda’s active poor by improving household incomes through commercial production. The initiative targets key enterprises including dairy farming, coffee, bananas, piggery, grain and cereal production, and fish farming.
PDM is a strategy for coordinating and delivering both public and private sector interventions aimed at wealth creation and job generation at the parish level, which serves as the lowest unit of economic planning. It facilitates planning, budgeting, monitoring, and service delivery by both state and non-state actors.
Political oversight of the programme lies with the LCII Chairperson and the Parish Chief, supported by sub-county and district technical planning committees.
https://thecooperator.news/kasese-farmers-harness-climate-smart-technology-to-enhance-agriculture/
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