President Museveni Pledges Elevated Funding for PDM in City Areas

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced plans to increase funding for the Parish Development Model (PDM), with a focus on urban and town parishes where the population density and number of potential beneficiaries are significantly higher than in rural areas.

Under the current framework, each parish receives UGX 100 million annually, intended to support 100 households with UGX 1 million each for income-generating activities.

The President revealed that this allocation is just the starting point, with increased funding expected soon, especially for urban parishes, acknowledging that the current uniform funding allocation may not be equitable, especially in urban settings where needs are greater.

“This UGX 100 million is just the beginning. We are going to put more money and increase the amount disbursed to these urban PDM parishes where there are many people. This money is yours. My advice is, don’t let anyone play around with it,” President Museveni stated.

The President made the remarks on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as he concluded the third day of his PDM assessment tour with a visit to Ms. Lillian Nagawa, a beneficiary of the program from Kaazi Village, Busabala Parish in Makindye Ssabagabo, Wakiso District.

Ms. Nagawa, who received her UGX 1 million in April 2024, initially ventured into piggery but later transitioned into poultry farming after a pig flu outbreak and has since expanded into goat rearing and now owns over 200 chickens and six goats. On Eid Day, she reported earning UGX 1.6 million from selling broilers and used part of the profits to invest further in livestock.

“I plan to have 20,000 chickens, more goats, and, if possible, cows because I know how to take care of them,” she said. 

Ms. Nagawa also urged fellow Ugandans to stop undermining government initiatives like the PDM, saying they are a lifeline for low-income earners.

President Museveni praised Nagawa’s entrepreneurial spirit and utilization of the funds, saying her story is a testament to the impact of the PDM when implemented effectively.

“I’m very happy to be here to join you and to see that you’re proceeding well with the Parish Development Model. I’m also impressed by the level of uptake and utilization of PDM Funds in Makindye Ssabagabo,” the President said.

To further support her growing enterprise, President Museveni donated UGX 10 million to Ms. Nagawa and promised to send a team to construct a modern poultry house for her.

Additionally, he extended UGX 10 million to ten other PDM beneficiaries in Busabala Parish (UGX 1 million each) and UGX 12 million to facilitate the purchase of a three-wheeled motorized vehicle (tuk-tuk) to support the local PDM SACCO.

The President emphasized the government’s commitment to direct community empowerment through PDM and Emyooga initiatives and programs designed to move Ugandans out of the subsistence economy and reduce reliance on exploitative moneylenders.

“If we handle this money very well (UGX 100 million per parish per year), you will find that in five years, you will have UGX 800 million, and in ten years, it will be UGX 1.6 billion in your parish bank,” President Museveni explained.

He distinguished infrastructure development and individual wealth creation, urging Ugandans to focus on household-level economic transformation.

“You can have a tarmac road for 60 years, but poor people can still live beside it,” he noted, recalling his personal experiences traveling Uganda in the 1960s.

“That is why the NRM said, on top of development, let us add another word—wealth,” President Museveni added.

The President reiterated that wealth can be achieved through commercial agriculture, service provision, or manufacturing and called on citizens to actively participate in wealth creation to eradicate poverty.

Ms. Nagawa expressed her gratitude to President Museveni for reaching out to grassroots communities and delivering financial support directly to the people.