Teso PDM beneficiaries repay only sh86m of sh77b due, says report
The figures, contained in a PDM Secretariat report, show that less than one per cent of the money due for repayment has so far been recovered since the programme was launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022.
Deputy national coordinator of PDM Bonnie Kashaija. (Courtesy photo)
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Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in the Teso sub-region have repaid only sh86m out of sh77b due to SACCOs, raising concerns over the sustainability and management of the Government's flagship household-income programme.
The figures, contained in a PDM Secretariat report, show that less than one per cent of the money due for repayment has so far been recovered since the programme was launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022.
The report was presented by PDM director of planning, monitoring and evaluation Violet Akurut Adome during a validation meeting on wealth-creation programmes in Soroti city on September 11, 2026.
Akurut said the Government has injected sh347b into PDM in Teso, of which sh300b has been disbursed to about 300,000 beneficiaries.
Another sh47b remains in PDM SACCO accounts awaiting the selection of beneficiaries.
She said sh77b in the hands of beneficiaries is due for repayment, but only sh86m has been returned to the SACCOs.
She called for SACCO boards to be trained to improve governance and management, while urging the Government to address the shortage of agricultural extension workers to support beneficiaries in production and value addition.
The poor recovery comes amid renewed efforts by the Government to tighten implementation of PDM and ensure that funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
Deputy national coordinator of PDM Bonnie Kashaija warned programme implementers against violating the guidelines governing access to the funds.
She said PDM is specifically intended to lift the 39% of Ugandans living in abject poverty and should not benefit civil servants.
Kashaija tasked focal persons, parish chiefs, Parish Development Committees and SACCO boards with ensuring that Government employees do not access PDM funds.
However, Kashaija said the Government was considering changes to the PDM policy guidelines in collaboration with Parliament, arguing that some of the existing provisions are preventing poor people from accessing the funds.
In a message delivered at the meeting, secretary in the Office of the President Yunus Kakande called for collective action to address gaps in wealth-creation programmes.
He said stronger implementation was necessary to achieve President Museveni's goal of increasing household incomes and promoting socio-economic transformation.
Closing the meeting, economic monitoring state minister in the Office of the President, Santa Sandra Alum Ogwang, directed resident district commissioners and resident city commissioners to ensure that corruption cases involving PDM, Emyooga and cattle-restocking programmes are prosecuted.
She said the cases, involving parish chiefs, community development officers, SACCO leaders and other technical staff, should be pursued to serve as a deterrent to others.
Alum also directed officials to ensure that beneficiaries receive programme funds without extortion, nepotism, sectarianism, tribalism or religious discrimination.
The minister spent five days in Teso monitoring the implementation of Emyooga, PDM and cattle-restocking programmes before proceeding to Lango the following week.