ZOMBO, April 6, 2026 — Leaders in Zombo district recently convened a mandatory stakeholders’ meeting to assess the implementation and progress of the Parish Development Model [PDM], a government initiative that aims to move poor households from subsistence agriculture to the money economy.
The meeting held at Karim Hall, Zombo district headquarters brought together a wide range of district officials and implementers, including Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Samson Natsambwa, PDM Focal Person Dr Walter Kumakech, Commercial Officer Lamec Ulum, Communication Officer Alex Pithua, ICT Officer Ronald Onen, and Community Development Officers [CDOs].
Also in attendance were town clerks, Parish Chiefs, Town Agents, Parish Development Committees [PDCs], Chairpersons of PDM SACCOs, and security officials led by Zombo Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Festus Ayikobua.
Launched in February 2022 by President Yoweri Museveni, the PDM is a seven-pillar, multi-sectoral strategy aimed at transitioning subsistence households into the money economy.
Officials said the programme has reached a stabilisation stage in the district and is increasingly embracing digital systems [PDMIS] to enhance transparency and accountability.
Presenting the district status report, Kumakech urged stakeholders to prioritise community mindset change and adhere strictly to programme guidelines to ensure successful implementation.
Financial and physical progress reports as of March 31, 2026, indicate that Zombo district has received approximately Shs 21.8 billion, disbursed to 61 PDM SACCOs. The most recent tranche of Shs 3.05 billion, released in November 2025, is still at various stages of disbursement.
By December 31, 2025, each SACCO had received Shs 357,669,000 from their respective Parish Revolving Fund [PRF] for onward lending to beneficiaries.
However, Kumakech noted that initial disbursements in the 2022/2023 financial year were conducted manually outside the PDM Information System–Financial Inclusion System [PDMIS-FIS], with about Shs 3.4 billion paid to 4,588 beneficiaries through this process.
Recovery rates in the district remain low. By December 2025, only Shs 37,076,000 had been recovered from a handful of SACCOs, including those in Paidha and Zombo town councils and surrounding areas.
The programme has supported several enterprise categories, including Irish potatoes (4,447 beneficiaries), piggery [2,668], beans [1,368], coffee [1,047], horticulture [975], and poultry [561].
According to the 2024 census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS], Zombo district has 43,212 households engaged in subsistence farming, representing 60.4 per cent of all households. So far, 15,533 beneficiaries—comprising 8,138 men and 7,395 women—have been supported under the PDM.
Of these, 24 per cent are youth, 33 per cent women, 3 per cent persons with disabilities, 15 per cent elderly, and 25 per cent fall under other categories. Overall, 35.9 per cent of targeted households have benefited from the PRF to date.
Despite these gains, Kumakech highlighted several challenges, including extortion and collusion by implementers, complacency, non-compliance with PDM guidelines, and reluctance by some parish chiefs to capture PRF backlog data.
He recommended intensified mindset change training led by CDOs and town clerks, the rollout of agricultural insurance schemes to cushion beneficiaries against climate shocks, continuous advisory support from extension officers, and a review of PDM guidelines to prioritise input-based loans over cash disbursements.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy CAO Natsambwa urged implementers to take ownership of the programme and abandon negative attitudes that hinder progress.
“I urge you to pursue all avenues that will ensure the success of the PDM,” he said.
RDC Ayikobua issued a stern warning against extortion and mismanagement, revealing that his office receives numerous complaints from beneficiaries.
“On average, I receive about 30 phone calls from beneficiaries accusing parish chiefs and PDC members of extortion,” he said, cautioning that offenders risk arrest.
Some stakeholders called for more regular engagements. Wilfred Ochanda, LC1 Chairperson of Umbila Parish in Nyapea Subcounty, appealed for consistent review meetings to strengthen implementation.
Meanwhile, Angar Parish Chief Mary Parmu shared a success story, noting that the programme is already transforming livelihoods in her area.
“At least seven beneficiaries of PDM funds have built iron-sheet houses in my parish, increasing the number from two to nine,” she said.
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