Soroti City: Civil servants urged to keep off PDM funds
SOROTI CITY, January 30, 2026 — Civil servants in Soroti City East Division have issued a stern warning to fellow public officers, urging them to refrain from accessing funds under the Parish Development Model [PDM] programme, as they are not eligible beneficiaries.
Hellen Alajo, the Division Community Development Officer [CDO], issued the warning on Thursday during the selection of programme beneficiaries in Akisim Ward. She stressed that civil servants who illegally benefit from the programme risk losing their jobs or being denied retirement benefits such as pensions.
“Civil servants should not benefit from this programme because, when discovered, they may lose their jobs. This programme is system-supported,” Alajo said.
She emphasised that PDM guidelines must be strictly followed during beneficiary selection, noting that households, not individuals, are the primary consideration.
“I believe our local leaders have done a good job mobilising responsible people and those we can clearly identify,” she added.
Alajo also cautioned beneficiaries against misusing the funds, citing past experiences with other government programmes such as the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP] and the Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP], where some beneficiaries misappropriated funds.
“This time, let us use the money wisely, no eating the money,” she warned.
Meanwhile, George William Tukei, the Commercial Officer for Soroti City, emphasised that the PDM operates under strict guidelines that require beneficiaries to be physically present during selection.
“No one gets selected without being physically present. There are no exceptions. It is all about transparency,” Tukei said.
He added that certain enterprises, such as produce buying, are not allowed under the programme. Instead, beneficiaries were encouraged to focus on value addition. He further noted that agroforestry is not permitted and advised applicants to choose alternative enterprises that suit them.
Tukei urged selected beneficiaries to visit established enterprises to learn from experienced operators, rather than relying on trial and error. He reminded them that the funds are loans that must be repaid and therefore should be invested in enterprises they are familiar with.
In 2026, the government will continue to capitalise PDM SACCOs and has so far released Shs 529 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, providing an additional Shs 50 million to each of the more than 10,500 SACCOs nationwide.
The PDM is a government initiative launched in February 2025 to move poor households to the money economy. Under the programme, each beneficiary receives a soft loan of Shs 1 million to invest in selected enterprises like piggery fish farming, poultry keeping, and diary farming among others.
https://thecooperator.news/soroti-youth-urged-to-utilise-pdm-funds-wisely/
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