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PDM still holds key to household independence
The Parish Development Model (PDM) remains one of Uganda’s key pathways to household economic transformation, empowering families to move from subsistence production to income-generating enterprise, writes Quillino Bamwine
Quillino Bamwine. (File)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Quillino Bamwine
In 2017, during a meeting at State House, Entebbe, convened to resolve the then-contentious Lakang land matters in Amuru district, I witnessed President Yoweri Museveni reflect on the transformative impact of Gulu University. I attended the meeting then as a journalist with Mega FM.
Among the delegates was Prof. Jack Nyeko Pen-Mogi, the university’s founding vice-chancellor. As Uganda celebrates 64 years of independence, it is an opportune time to reflect on the country’s journey and to examine the interventions that can help realise the dream of shared prosperity.
Independence was not merely about replacing colonial rule with self-governance; it was about creating opportunities for every Ugandan to live a dignified life, educate their children, access healthcare and earn a sustainable income.
More than six decades later, that dream remains a work in progress. It is against this backdrop that the Parish Development Model (PDM) continues to stand out as one of the most important pathways toward household economic transformation.
Since its roll-out, PDM has sparked considerable debate. Critics have pointed to delays in disbursement, challenges in beneficiary selection and cases of misuse of funds. These concerns are legitimate and deserve attention. However, they should not distract us from the fundamental purpose of the programme. The real question is not whether PDM should continue, but whether all stakeholders are doing enough to make it achieve its intended objectives.
PDM’S journey
For many years, Uganda’s development strategy focused heavily on infrastructure, national economic growth and social service delivery. Roads were built, electricity expanded and public institutions strengthened. While these investments were necessary, many rural households remained trapped in subsistence production, unable to participate meaningfully in the money economy.
PDM was designed to address this gap by taking development resources directly to the parish, where the majority of Ugandans live and work.
The philosophy behind the programme is simple, but powerful. Prosperity begins in homes, not in government offices. A household that can access affordable capital to invest in farming, livestock rearing, retail trade or other income-generating activities is better positioned to improve its standard of living. When thousands of such households prosper, local economies expand, jobs are created, and poverty levels decline.
There are already encouraging signs from different parts of the country. In cattle-keeping districts such as Kiruhura and Ntungamo, some beneficiaries have used their PDM funds to improve dairy production through better livestock management and pasture establishment. Increased milk production translates into daily income, enabling families to meet basic needs and invest in the future.
In Greater Masaka, where coffee farming is increasingly becoming a reliable source of household income, beneficiaries have invested in coffee seedlings and farm maintenance, creating a foundation for long-term earnings.
Elsewhere, the programme is supporting small enterprises that may not attract national headlines, but are changing lives at the grassroots. In many parishes, beneficiaries have established poultry projects, piggery units, roadside produce businesses and horticultural enterprises.
PDM’S journey
For many years, Uganda’s development strategy focused heavily on infrastructure, national economic growth and social service delivery. Roads were built, electricity expanded and public institutions strengthened. While these investments were necessary, many rural households remained trapped in subsistence production, unable to participate meaningfully in the money economy.
PDM was designed to address this gap by taking development resources directly to the parish, where the majority of Ugandans live and work.
The philosophy behind the programme is simple, but powerful. Prosperity begins in homes, not in government offices. A household that can access affordable capital to invest in farming, livestock rearing, retail trade or other income-generating activities is better positioned to improve its standard of living. When thousands of such households prosper, local economies expand, jobs are created, and poverty levels decline.
There are already encouraging signs from different parts of the country. In cattle-keeping districts such as Kiruhura and Ntungamo, some beneficiaries have used their PDM funds to improve dairy production through better livestock management and pasture establishment. Increased milk production translates into daily income, enabling families to meet basic needs and invest in the future.
In Greater Masaka, where coffee farming is increasingly becoming a reliable source of household income, beneficiaries have invested in coffee seedlings and farm maintenance, creating a foundation for long-term earnings.
Elsewhere, the programme is supporting small enterprises that may not attract national headlines, but are changing lives at the grassroots. In many parishes, beneficiaries have established poultry projects, piggery units, roadside produce businesses and horticultural enterprises.
A widow who previously struggled to raise school fees can now support her children from proceeds earned through poultry farming. A youth group that once depended on casual labour is now operating a produce business supplying nearby trading centres. A smallholder farmer who cultivated only enough food for family consumption is now selling tomatoes, onions and cabbages to urban markets, earning income throughout the season.
These examples matter because they demonstrate the true purpose of economic empowerment. Poverty is not overcome through policies alone. It is overcome when households have the means to generate income, build assets and plan for the future. The transformation may begin with a single enterprise, but its impact extends far beyond one family. This multiplier effect is what makes PDM important not only for individual households, but also for entire local economies.
This is why reduced commitment to PDM would be a mistake. Instead, there should be renewed focus on strengthening implementation. Local leaders must ensure transparency and accountability. Parish development committees must identify deserving beneficiaries fairly. Technical officers should provide extension services to farmers and entrepreneurs. Beneficiaries, on their part, must invest funds responsibly and avoid diverting them to consumption or non-productive activities.
The programme’s success will also depend on a culture of responsibility and community ownership. Public funds are not gifts; they are resources intended to stimulate economic activity and uplift communities. When beneficiaries use the funds well and support accountability measures, more households stand to benefit.
Focus on sustainable prosperity
64 years after independence, Uganda’s greatest task is no longer securing political freedom, but ensuring that economic opportunity reaches every village, parish and household. PDM may not be perfect, but it is one of the most practical vehicles for achieving that objective.
As we celebrate Independence, let us remember that the true measure of progress is not the years since 1962, but the number of Ugandan households that have escaped poverty and built sustainable livelihoods. If implemented with integrity, accountability and commitment from all stakeholders, the PDM still holds the key to unlocking the prosperity that millions of Ugandans seek.
The writer is a political economist and scholar
These examples matter because they demonstrate the true purpose of economic empowerment. Poverty is not overcome through policies alone. It is overcome when households have the means to generate income, build assets and plan for the future. The transformation may begin with a single enterprise, but its impact extends far beyond one family. This multiplier effect is what makes PDM important not only for individual households, but also for entire local economies.
This is why reduced commitment to PDM would be a mistake. Instead, there should be renewed focus on strengthening implementation. Local leaders must ensure transparency and accountability. Parish development committees must identify deserving beneficiaries fairly. Technical officers should provide extension services to farmers and entrepreneurs. Beneficiaries, on their part, must invest funds responsibly and avoid diverting them to consumption or non-productive activities.
The programme’s success will also depend on a culture of responsibility and community ownership. Public funds are not gifts; they are resources intended to stimulate economic activity and uplift communities. When beneficiaries use the funds well and support accountability measures, more households stand to benefit.
Focus on sustainable prosperity
64 years after independence, Uganda’s greatest task is no longer securing political freedom, but ensuring that economic opportunity reaches every village, parish and household. PDM may not be perfect, but it is one of the most practical vehicles for achieving that objective.
As we celebrate Independence, let us remember that the true measure of progress is not the years since 1962, but the number of Ugandan households that have escaped poverty and built sustainable livelihoods. If implemented with integrity, accountability and commitment from all stakeholders, the PDM still holds the key to unlocking the prosperity that millions of Ugandans seek.
The writer is a political economist and scholar