MBALE, May 22, 2025 –– Ritah Namuwenge, the National Coordinator for the Emyooga programme and Parish Development Model PDM] Consultant for Uganda’s Eastern Region, has urged local leaders in Mbale City to embrace a mindset shift to ensure the success of government poverty eradication programmes.
During a monitoring visit on Wednesday to Wakwaba Lower in Nauyo, Mbale Industrial City Division, Namuwenge met with stakeholders involved in the PDM initiative, including members on Parish Development Committees members [PDCs], PDM SACCO leaders, Village Health Teams [VHTs], religious figures, and newly elected LC1 flag bearers of the National Resistance Movement [NRM].
Namuwenge underscored that poverty limits personal development and decision-making, adding that this was one of the reasons behind President Yoweri Museveni’s introduction of community-based economic empowerment programmes such as Emyooga and the PDM.
“Poverty is crippling, you cannot make any meaningful decisions when you’re poor,” she said. “Let us utilise these government programmes effectively to eliminate poverty in our households.”
She warned against the belief that leadership is an avenue for personal enrichment, stating: “There is a misconception among our people that leadership is about self-enrichment, or ‘eating’. That’s completely wrong. Leadership should be about service to the people.”
Namuwenge further urged leaders to be inclusive and non-partisan in the implementation of the PDM.
“PDM is a government programme – not an NRM project. Everyone eligible, regardless of political affiliation, has a right to benefit. Why then are opposition members being sidelined?” she asked.
She also pointed to the conduct of some leaders close to the President as part of the problem.
“President Museveni is not the problem; we, the people around him, are. He appoints people believing they will serve and uplift others, yet many squander these opportunities,” she noted.
Namuwenge challenged NRM leaders in Mbale City, questioning their engagement with national leadership and their support for young people.
“Some of you report youths to security agencies simply because they support the National Unity Platform [NUP]. Instead, engage with them, understand their challenges, and advocate for their access to capital and opportunities. Don’t use force; use dialogue,” she said.
One local leader who attended the meeting and requested anonymity praised Namuwenge’s candid advice and highlighted issues of discrimination in the PDM implementation.
“She may be an NRM member, but she’s right to urge us not to discriminate against non-NRM supporters when selecting PDM beneficiaries,” the leader said. “Government programmes should serve all citizens equally regardless of the political party they subscribe to.”
Launched in February 2022, the PDM is a government initiative aimed at transforming subsistence households into the money economy through investment in the agricultural value chain.
The programme focuses on improving service delivery and empowering communities at the grassroots level. It provides a soft loan of Shs 1 million each to invest in enterprises such s coffee, dairy farming, piggery, and poultry keeping, among several others.
https://thecooperator.news/alebtong-locals-urged-to-embrace-parish-development-programme/
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