PDM Beneficiaries Cautioned to Use Funds as Planned
PDM Beneficiaries Cautioned to Use Funds as Planned
By Mayengo Godfrey Communication Officer Mityana
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel Zirabamuzaale has called on beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Mityana district to use the funds strictly according to their approved business plans, warning that mismanagement will not be tolerated.
ACAO Zirabamuzaale said this during the verification exercise in Kikandwa Sub County Mityana North where he said that the money that is going to be given out should be used according to the business plan they filled not to divert the money into other things which are not productive.
Zirabamuzaale thanked the LC I Chairpersons for their diligent work in identifying beneficiaries and cautioned beneficiaries against bribing parish chiefs to be included on the list. “If you were asked for money to be selected, report it. No one should pay to benefit from government programs,” ACAO emphasized.
He also tasked LC I and LC II chairpersons and parish chiefs to monitor beneficiaries from the first, second, and third phases of disbursement who got money to see to it that they refund back money. ACAO reminded the public and beneficiaries that PDM funds is not a handout or token of appreciation for voting President Museveni.
“This is not Kasiimo it is not compensation. Every beneficiary is required to refund the money with profits,” he clarified. “Those who got funds in the first phase are expected to begin repayments in October this year.”
ACAO Zirabamuzaale also issued strong advice to both women and men about PDM funds they are going to get that they should not do non developmental activites. “Women should not divert this money into non-developmental activities, and men should not misuse the funds to marry additional wives.” He reiterated that PDM is designed to transform households, regardless of political affiliation, and must be used responsibly.
He further cautioned beneficiaries to be wary of fraudsters posing as PDM agents. “Be careful of bafere who call you claiming they can help you get money. Do not fall victim,” he warned.
Mukiibi Magala Stanely, the Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS) of Kikandwa Sub-county, confirmed that all eight parishes in the sub-county successfully selected beneficiaries for the PDM program. He commended Local Council I (LC I) Chairpersons for spearheading the transparent selection process, adding that no discrimination was exercised based on political affiliation.
“All the selected beneficiaries have proper business plans and have been entered into the IFMS and WENDI systems,” Mukiibi stated. He urged the beneficiaries to put the funds to proper use, as outlined in their proposals, to promote household income and community development.
Erisa Kabogoza 58 a resident of Nakwaya who was verified to get PDM money said that he is going to go for daily farming and buy a bull at 70,000/= and the rest of the money invest it in selling fish. He said that while the bull is growing he will be selling fish so that invest it so that he can get profit to refund back the money. “When I buy a cow and look after it for a period of 8 months I can sell it and buy another cow that can give birth and provide milk and the rest invest it in other venture so that I stay working.” Said Kabogoza.
Toepista Nakachwa 25 years said that when she gets the money she is going for poultry and is going to use her business plan to see that she can gain from it. She said that she will start with few chicks and will advance as time goes on.
Sulayiti Saiti Ssebunya 70 years from Nabiteete Watuba parish said that he is going to invest in coffee farming and he said that he is going to buy fertilizers and the rest of the money will invest it in another business so that he keeps the money.
The Acting District Commercial Officer Ivan Kisakye said that 8,004,000,000/= was disbursed in phase one to 8004 subsistence households.
In Phase two they disbursed 7,500,000,000/= to 7500 subsistence households and in phase three they are going to disburse 7,500,000,000/= to subsistence households.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a government of Uganda initiative launched in February 2022 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kibuku District. It is designed to transition 39% of Uganda’s population who are still in the subsistence economy into the money economy. The model brings development planning and implementation down to the parish level, which is Uganda's lowest administrative unit, making it a key point of service delivery and economic transformation.
The PDM operates through seven pillars, which include: Production, Storage, Processing and Marketing, Infrastructure and Economic Services, Financial Inclusion, Social Services, Mindset Change, Parish-Based Management Information System, Governance and Administration.
Under the Financial Inclusion pillar, each parish is allocated UGX 100 million per year, which is extended to selected beneficiaries organized in enterprise groups as revolving funds. Beneficiaries are expected to invest in viable agricultural and small business enterprises based on approved business plans and later refund the money with interest.