Your grace period is up, repay the PDM cash, Bushenyi RDC tells beneficiaries

BUSHENYI - Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme have been ordered to start repaying the money they received, in accordance with program guidelines. 

Bushenyi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Emmy Ngabirano says since the Government launched PDM in 2022, the two-year grace period granted to beneficiaries has now expired.

“The time for grace is over. It is now time to pay back the money so that others can also benefit from this government programme,” Ngabirano says.

He made the remarks during a stakeholder meeting at the Bushenyi District Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

The meeting brought together parish chiefs, sub-county chiefs, town agents, PDM SACCO chairpersons and PDM committee members.

PDM focal person Gordon Tumuhimbise clarified that the first batch of PDM revolving funds was disbursed in March 2023, and the 24-month grace period officially ended in March 2025.

“This means beneficiaries must now start repaying the UGX 1 million plus the interest, as agreed in the guidelines,” Tumuhimbise said.

Hope Christine Komujuni, the District Commercial Officer and one of the PDM focal persons, acknowledged challenges in the repayment process, noting that some beneficiaries had diverted the funds.

“A number of people used the money for unproductive ventures, which has made repayment difficult. But we are encouraged to see that some have already started paying back, and these recoveries are now helping those who missed out in the first round,” she said.

About PDM

Launched in February 2022 by President Museveni, 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 programme involves multiple implementing agencies at various levels. The local government ministry leads co-ordination at the national level, while district and parish authorities are responsible for implementation on the ground.

Key sectoral players include the agriculture ministry (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.

Solicitation allegations

Ngabirano also issued a stern warning to parish chiefs accused of soliciting money from beneficiaries.

“We have received reports that some parish chiefs and parish chairpersons shared the shillings 250,000 facilitation meant for PDM committees. This is corruption, and I want that money refunded by Friday,” he warned.

Principal assistant secretary Dan Taritweba applauded the district’s performance in implementing the PDM.

“Bushenyi is currently ranked 7th nationally in the timely disbursement of PDM revolving funds. This shows that our actors right from the village to the district have been committed,” Taritweba said.

The meeting attracted officials from Parish Development Committees (PDCs), PDM SACCOs, parish chiefs, town agents, community development officers, senior assistant secretaries, and town clerks.