What universal access to PDM revolving funds means for Uganda’s future

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OPINION

By Ismail Kibedi

Since the launch of the Parish Development Model (PDM), Uganda has taken bold steps toward transforming household incomes and accelerating the shift from subsistence to the money economy. The programme-one of the flagship initiatives championed under the leadership of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has already made significant progress. Yet, despite the gains, only about 35 percent of households are currently benefiting from PDM. This raises fundamental questions about inclusion, equity, and the true transformative potential of the model.

One proposal that has sparked national conversation is the idea of making it government policy for each member of a family unit to receive PDM revolving funds individually, rather than channelling the funds only through SACCOs or household heads. While ambitious, such an approach invites us to re-imagine what Uganda would look like if every citizen-not just every household-could directly access capital aimed at enterprise growth.

If PDM funds were disbursed to individual family members, Uganda would likely witness the most extensive grassroots capitalisation effort in its history. Youth, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups would no longer rely on gatekeepers within the household to access opportunities. This would democratise economic power at the lowest level, enabling each individual to start, grow, or diversify their own enterprise.

Moreover, this model would align well with the NRM’s long-standing vision of economic empowerment rooted in self-reliance. By broadening access, the government would be directly investing in human potential-unlocking thousands of small but economically impactful activities across parishes.

A family with multiple income-generating projects is more likely to withstand shocks. When only one member of a household accesses PDM funds, the impact may be limited, and intra-household constraints can hinder the success of the funded enterprise. But when each member-youth runs their own project, households diversify risk, increase earnings, and build stronger financial stability.

This could lead to a future where:

• families are better equipped to manage emergencies,
• savings culture increases,
• dependency ratios are reduced, and
• communities become more productive and enterprising.

Such outcomes directly strengthen the socio-economic foundation that the NRM government has been building over the years.

The Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS), developed by the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, stands at the heart of this vision. The system has already improved tracking, reporting, and monitoring of PDM activities. Expanding PDM to individual beneficiaries would make PDMIS even more vital, and monitoring would be very easy and cheap.

With proper scaling, PDMIS could:

• maintain digital profiles of all beneficiaries,
• track individual enterprise performance,
• facilitate electronic disbursement and repayment,
• provide data analytics to inform government decisions, and
• reduce leakage, duplication, and misuse of funds.

This would ensure that expanded access does not compromise accountability. Instead, it would strengthen transparency while building public trust in government programs.

When many individuals within a parish have capital to invest, local economies naturally become more vibrant. Increased household earnings translate into higher demand for goods and services, which stimulates value chains. Markets become more active, agriculture becomes more commercialised, and local enterprises benefit from a broader consumer base.

Over time, we would likely see:

• Rural industrialisation is picking up,
• more micro-enterprises formalising,
• job creation across multiple sectors, and
• increased tax revenue for local governments.

This grassroots economic boom would be essential as Uganda positions itself for middle-income status and long-term sustainable growth.

We need to secure the future while protecting the gains together. The NRM government has invested decades in peace, stability, infrastructure, and socio-economic transformation. PDM, supported by PDMIS, represents the next frontier of that journey-taking development directly to the people. Ensuring that every family member benefits from this model would deepen the government’s social contract with citizens, strengthen the achievements of the past, and secure a future where prosperity is widespread and inclusive.

In many ways, universal access to PDM funds would mark a historic shift: from household empowerment to individual empowerment, from partial inclusion to full participation, and from isolated successes to broad-based national transformation.

The idea of extending PDM funds to each member of a family unit is bold, yet deeply aligned with Uganda’s aspirations for inclusive growth. It promises a future where economic opportunity is democratised, households are more resilient, and local economies thrive. With robust digital infrastructure like PDMIS, strengthened accountability, and sustained political will, Uganda could set a continental example in bottom-up economic development.

As the country continues to safeguard the gains of the NRM government, expanding the reach and effectiveness of PDM remains a crucial step toward achieving a secure, prosperous, and self-sustaining future for all Ugandans.

The writer is the Principal National Guidance Officer and Parliament Liaison Officer for ICT & NG