Kawempe residents receive sh1.3b PDM cash
Nov 10, 2023
“If the government officials ask for bribes, report them to our relevant offices if you are to engage in fighting corruption, theft, and bureaucracy in relevant ministries,” he advised.
A message of PDM money that Ketty as one of the beneficiaries in Kawempe division (Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)
Isaac Nuwagaba
Journalist @New Vision
____________________________ Kampala Ministers Minsa Kabanda and state minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye and PDM deputy coordinator Joveline Kalisa dancing PDM song composed by musician Willy Mukabya Kate Tumwesigye who benefited from PDM gave thanks to the government for keeping their promise Kawempe PDM beneficiaries clapping hands as a sign of appreciation after their bank accounts were credited with their money
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has commenced the disbursement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to 1,325 beneficiaries in the Kawempe division in Kampala City.
Kawempe division which has 22 wards and 22 Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) received sh1.315b ( sh1m each) that was channeled through their accounts in Opportunity Bank.
Beneficairies include those involved: in roasting maize, selling chapati, fresh food, frying popcorn, or any related business along the agricultural value chain in Kampala.
The PDM program, which President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched in February 2022 set an ambitious goal of lifting 17.5 million Ugandans from 3.5 million subsistence household families out of poverty.
The Parish Revolving Fund, provided by the government, serves as a capitalization grant to SACCOs to lend to viable income-generating activities, encompassing the production, processing, marketing, and storage of agricultural products.
This program represents the government's latest effort to combat poverty and drive economic transformation, especially in families still depending on agriculture and staggering small-scale business enterprises to survive.
While disbursing the money to the beneficiaries at Christian Life Church in Bwaise yesterday on Thursday afternoon, Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and the Metropolitan Affairs asked, beneficiaries to cultivate the culture of saving while involving their family members in growing their wealth.
Kampala state minister, Kabuye Kyofatogabye warned beneficiaries against using PDM cash for purposes other than the intended objective of sustaining existing businesses to generate more money and wealth.
“If the government officials ask for bribes, report them to our relevant offices if you are to engage in fighting corruption, theft, and bureaucracy in relevant ministries,” he advised.
Kabuye said that following the guidelines issued by the PDM secretariat, KCCA completed the due processes for funds disbursements including enterprise creation, SACCO formation, training, and annual general meetings.
The deputy coordinator of PDM, Joveline Kalisa advised beneficiaries to report government officials who demand kickbacks to register them as beneficiaries in the next groups.
Mariam Nabacwa who received her funds directly on her mobile phone commended President Museveni for working towards ending poverty.
Disbursement of PDM cash kick-started on Tuesday at USAFI taxi park and market in the central division with beneficiaries from 98 parishes pocketing over sh1b cash marking the beginning of the rollout that would soon cover five divisions of Kampala district.
Grace Kemigisha, a beneficiary from Mulago III zone stressed that the only way to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries who are engaging in farming is because they face high risks due to climate vagaries.
Benefitting parishes included Bwaise II, Kanyanya, Kikaaya, Bwaise III, Komamboga, Mpererwe, Kyebando, Kawempe I, Kawempe II, Makerere University, Muluka I, II, III, IV, Mulago III, Mulago II, Kazo – Angola, Bwaise I, Makerere III, Makerere I, Wandegeya and Makerere III.
The Model proposes building infrastructure and systems that support the processing and marketing of Uganda’s agricultural products.
During the event Anisa Nabisere, the KCCA PDM focal person gave a brief on the readiness of KCCA to successfully implement this change-maker government strategy for social and economic transformation.
Nabisere said the city is on course to implement the program; a PDM secretariat is already in place, ward administrators were recruited and sensitizations are ongoing for those who shall benefit in the next phase.
She also reported that enterprise registration is ongoing, data collection is ongoing, and that new SACCOs were being registered.
According to Nabisere at least 60% of the households have been with majority from slum areas and are mainly headed by women.
At least 97 Sacco’s were registered to benefit, 1,200 enterprise groups and 42,000 beneficiaries registered.
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