LIRA, December 17, 2024 — The Parish Development Model [ PDM ] is achieving notable successes in the Lango Subregion, despite challenges in its implementation, theCooperator can report.
Officials managing the programme have revealed that women have outperformed men in utilising the funds, with many men showing little progress on the ground.
Launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022, the PDM aims to transition 39 percent of Ugandans still engaged in subsistence agriculture into the monetary economy.
The PDM provides soft loans to the beneficiaries to invest in enterprises of their choice, such as dairy farming, coffee, fish farming, piggery, poultry keeping, and fruit growing among others.
The government reports that Shs 2.06 trillion has been allocated to the 10,589 functioning PDM Saving and Credit Cooperative Organisations [PDM SACCOs] to implement the programme.
According to the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Ramathan Ggoobi, most districts have disbursed between 80 and 100 percent of the funds to beneficiaries.
In the Lango subregion, three districts—Kwania, Oyam, and Apac—have emerged as leaders in disbursing the funds to beneficiaries of the PDM. Each beneficiary of the programme gets Shs 1 million.
Kwania district’s LC5 Chairperson, Alex Ogwal, explained that the district’s success in fund disbursement was due to local leaders viewing the PDM as a tool for economic transformation. They began mobilising the community well in advance of the government’s fund distribution.
“As I speak now, we are preparing the new beneficiaries, and we are also seeking out success stories,” he said. “We have already disbursed the full Shs 49 billion.”
Ogwal added that over 60 percent of the beneficiaries in Kwania are women, who are well-organised and consistently attend PDM meetings.
However, some districts in the Lango subregion have struggled with PDM implementation, including Dokolo, Alebtong, Kole, Otuke, Lira City, and Amolatar. Alebtong’s District Commercial Officer, Bob Harris Oluk, reported that despite receiving Shs 14 billion, the district still has a balance of Shs 270 million that remains undisbursed to beneficiaries.
Beneficiary Testimonies
Calvin Obua from Omarari parish in Alebtong district shared that after receiving Shs 1 million, he purchased a piglet and subsequently produced seven more. “I sold each for Shs 70,000, earning Shs 490,000. This progress has motivated me to explore other businesses besides piggery,” he said.
Molly Okello from Anyiti in Abako Subcounty said she was fortunate to receive Shs 500,000, which she used to buy four piglets. Unfortunately, two died, but she still has the remaining two, both of which are pregnant. She hopes to reap greater rewards from them. Despite the modest sum, she remains hopeful for future gains in her chosen enterprise.
“The money was small, but I utilised it wisely,” Okello explained. “I am hopeful for a bigger return. I also call on the government to increase the PDM funding from Shs 1 million to Shs 2 million.”
Calls for Wider Participation
Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua encouraged the public to engage in the four key programmes aimed at economic transformation to help lift them out of poverty. These include the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP], PDM, Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP].
Dorcas Acen, the Alebtong District Woman Member of Parliament, praised the women for their effective use of the PDM funds. “Women are the most affected by poverty, and I am pleased to see government initiatives targeting their upliftment,” she said.
https://thecooperator.news/masaka-officials-remanded-over-theft-of-pdm-money/
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