Govt overhauls PDM with new accountability measures

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The Government has unveiled a revamped strategic framework for the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme, introducing a new “PDM Theory of Change” aimed at boosting transparency, efficiency, and the overall impact of the programme.

The reforms, launched on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, are designed to shift beneficiary mindsets, strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems, and enhance coordination among government agencies involved in implementation.

The framework seeks to address the fragmentation that has hindered effective delivery of the PDM by aligning all actors under a unified strategy. It also introduces a harmonised monitoring and evaluation framework to help policymakers track progress, identify gaps, and apply lessons from past mistakes.

“There have been many efforts around PDM, but some people have been pulling in different directions,” Office of the President permanent secretary Hajji Yunus Kakande said.

“At one point, three different ministries had their own guidelines.”

Kakande said the new framework will clarify institutional roles, reduce duplication, and improve accountability across government departments and implementing agencies.

He also warned against politicising the programme, stating that the PDM was introduced by President Yoweri Museveni solely for development, not for political mobilisation.

“Just like Universal primary and secondary education or our road infrastructure programmes, PDM is meant to benefit all Ugandans, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.

Misuse of funds

Kakande acknowledged that the programme has faced implementation challenges, including the misuse of funds meant for income-generating projects. In some cases, he noted, beneficiaries have spent the money on funerals, household items, or personal expenses. He also cited instances of corruption among programme managers.

“We are committed to ensuring that every coin goes into meaningful economic development,” he said. “Beneficiaries must use these funds for ventures that improve their livelihoods.”

Vincent Tumusiime Bamugaya, a commissioner at the Directorate of Socio-Economic Monitoring and Research in the Office of the President, echoed the concerns, urging beneficiaries to avoid diverting funds to non-productive uses.

“We’ve heard of people using this money for things like marrying second wives,” Bamugaya said. “In Yumbe, an entire town reportedly used the funds to buy mattresses. We had to ask—what is all this?”

He added, “This is not to say buying a mattress is wrong, but it shows the urgent need for a national conversation on what the PDM is—and what it is not.”

A unified approach

Economist Dr Fred Muhumuza, a lecturer of Makerere University Business School, who gave a keynote address at the event, praised the Theory of Change for bringing clarity and structure to a programme that has often suffered from disjointed implementation.

“It helps define who is responsible for what, outlines financing mechanisms, and shows how each stakeholder contributes to the intended outcomes,” Muhumuza said. “Without alignment, even a well-funded programme like the PDM will struggle.”

He emphasised that uniting stakeholders behind a shared vision is essential if the programme is to achieve its goal of lifting millions of Ugandans out of poverty.

With the new framework in place, he says the agencies are recommitting to ensuring that every shilling invested in the PDM delivers real economic results for Ugandan households.

The reforms are also expected to address long-standing gaps in training, program awareness, and financial literacy—areas that have been flagged as key barriers to the program’s success since its launch.

About the PDM

Launched in February 2022 by President Museveni, the PDM aims to transition 33% of Ugandan households from subsistence to the money economy by promoting income generation, food security, and wealth creation at the parish level.

The program involves multiple implementing agencies at various levels. The Ministry of Local Government leads coordination at the national level, while district and parish authorities are responsible for implementation on the ground.

Key sectoral players include the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), which are working to ensure quality control in product processing and encourage micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to pursue certification.

Other institutions, such as the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), are involved in areas like community mobilisation and data collection.