Expose PDM misuse, Museveni urges Toro media
“Thieves of PDM should be jailed and serve as labourers, which will be beneficial to the Government,” Museveni says.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni interacts with Toro region journalists at the State Lodge in Fort Portal city on May 18, 2025. (PPU photos)
New Vision Journalist
Journalist @New Vision
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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Toro region journalists to expose the misuse of PDM funds, saying the Government is committed to safeguarding public funds.
The President says the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme funds are meant to tackle the challenges of poverty and promote economic transformation in the country.
“Thieves of PDM should be jailed and serve as labourers, which will be beneficial to the Government,” Museveni says.
The President made the remarks on May 18, 2025, while interacting with Toro journalists at the State Lodge in Fort Portal city.
President Museveni in a group photo with journalists from Toro region. 
“I come as a preacher to spread the gospel and assess those who have committed to live by the gospel,” he said.
President Museveni further highlighted that his purpose is to focus on economic transformation that aims at increasing household incomes and improving the quality of life of Ugandans through poverty alleviation initiatives like the PDM.
Programme framework
On the conceptualisation and implementation of PDM, the journalists highlighted the lack of a clear framework of the program.
“The design of PDM is very good but the challenge is that these beneficiaries weren’t sensitised at first on how to choose the best enterprises to invest their money,” one of the journalists said.
President Museveni responded with clarification, saying, “We had calculated the sh1 million based on coffee, knowing that 250 seedlings per acre would cost shillings 180,000 and the balance could be used on other developments. But because of the need to involve everyone, we embarked on 4 sectors with seven activities on four acres or less.”
The President said his advice was based on the availability of the market and good returns on the selected enterprises, which would achieve PDM goals of reducing poverty across the country.
Additionally, the President urged journalists to champion national development and remain patriotic in their reporting, aligning with the mindset change and Parish-based management information on socio-economic transformation and democracy.
He also proposed and tasked the journalists to nominate one journalist per district who will be attached to the Presidential Press Unit to monitor the PDM initiative.
President Museveni also contributed sh100 million to the journalists' SACCO and a van for transportation.
On the issue of Kyaka II Refugee Settlement located in Kyegegwa, President Museveni promised to resolve the long-standing dispute by providing land titles to occupants.
“They stole that land from the government, but we have decided to let them stay because it is not environmentally sensitive. I will write about it.”
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi.