PDM success in Otuke district attributed to digital system and positive mindset among beneficiaries

OTUKE, April 24, 2025 – The Commercial Officer of Otuke district, Charles Opio, has attributed the successful implementation of the Parish Development Model [PDM] in the district to the effective use of the Parish Development Management Information System [PDMIS] and a growing positive mindset among beneficiaries.

Opio, who also serves as the PDM Focal Point Person in the district, explained recently to this reporter that the PDMIS is actively utilised by parish chiefs, community leaders, and technical staff for data collection, fund disbursement, and community profiling. He noted that the majority of beneficiaries have made productive use of the funds.

“The PDMIS has made our work much easier because it’s user-friendly. We’re now able to disburse funds more quickly than in the past two years. The PDM Desk in Kampala also responds swiftly to issues raised by users, which has really streamlined the process,” Opio said.

Overcoming initial challenges

Opio acknowledged that at first, the system posed challenges due to frequent upgrades and a lack of user training.

“Initially, the PDMIS was difficult to use because it was being updated frequently without any training for the users. However, that has now changed. Weekly training sessions organised by the Ministry of ICT, held every Thursday via Zoom, have helped users become more proficient with the system,” he added.

He further highlighted how the system has significantly improved data management at the parish level, enabling more informed decision-making by local government authorities.

Mindset shift among beneficiaries

Opio also praised the shift in mindset among PDM beneficiaries, noting that people are now treating the programme as a serious economic opportunity.

“Previously, many saw PDM funds as free money from the government. But now, people are taking it seriously. They are investing in a variety of enterprises such as goat rearing, poultry farming, and growing crops like watermelon. This diversification is key because if one venture fails, others can sustain the beneficiary’s household,” he said.

Success stories from the field

Jimmy Abaa, a resident of Tetugu Village in Arwotngo Parish, Okwang Sub-county, is one of the first beneficiaries of PDM funding during the 2022/2023 financial year. As Chairperson of the Alimo-dit Joint Goat Rearing PDM SACCO, he invested his Shs 1 million allocation in goats, sheep, poultry, and watermelon farming.

“Before receiving this money, I had no savings or investments. I bought seven goats for Shs 650,000, 250 grams of watermelon seed for Shs 250,000, and used the remaining amount on spraying chemicals. I later sold the watermelon for Shs 2.5 million and used Shs 2.3 million to buy two cows, with the rest used to buy 15 hens. Though I lost five hens, three died and two were stolen, I now have 18 goats and four sheep,” he shared.

Abaa said the PDM initiative has transformed his household, allowing him to meet basic needs and plan for a permanent house for his family.

Ronald Emmy Ongany, a resident of Okodi Village in Arwotngo Parish, also received PDM funds in 2023. He invested in sheep and maize, using the maize harvest to pay his children’s school fees in 2024.

“I received the funds in September 2023 and bought five sheep for Shs 750,000. With the remaining funds, I bought maize seeds and harvested five sacks. I sold three and used the money to pay school fees,” Ongany said.

Under the PDM, each beneficiaries receives a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in selected enterprises such as coffee, dairy farming, fish farming, piggery, and poultry keeping among others.

Impressive disbursement rates

So far, Otuke District has received a cumulative Shs 13.5 billion under the PDM programme. Of this, Shs 12.9bln has already been disbursed, representing a 96 percent disbursement rate, according to Opio.

Launched in February 2022, the PDM is a Ugandan government initiative designed to lift 3.5 million households out of poverty and transition them into the money economy. It aims to improve incomes and welfare at the household level through a “last-mile” strategy, focusing on service delivery at the parish level. The programme is a key component of Uganda’s Third National Development Plan [NDP III] and is intended to deepen decentralisation, improve household incomes, and enable inclusive socio-economic transformation.

https://thecooperator.news/otuke-pdm-beneficiaries-divert-funds/

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