📸 No one should be asked for land title to access PDM funds — Museveni

NTUNGAMO - President Yoweri Museveni has clarified that no one is required to submit a land title or kibanja agreement as evidence to qualify for the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.

He has warned the Parish Chiefs and members of the PDM SACCO boards against demanding land as a condition for approving anyone to access PDM funds.

The Government gives out at least 100m to every parish every year to help people get out of poverty.

President Yoweri Museveni warned the Parish Chiefs and members of the PDM SACCO boards against demanding land as a condition for approving anyone to access PDM funds. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

President Museveni emphasised that PDM money is not meant to benefit the wealthy, but that it targets the poor who need to come up with viable projects that can help them get out of poverty.

Speaking to NRM supporters who gathered at Kyamate Primary School playground in Ntungamo Municipality, the NRM chairman and party presidential candidate emphasised that PDM money is not meant to benefit the wealthy, but that it targets the poor who need to come up with viable projects that can help them get out of poverty.

The president was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who is also the NRM chairperson for Ntungamo district.

Both of them were born in this district, and the president only migrated later to his current country home in Rwakitura in the present-day Kiruhura district.

The president was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who is also the NRM chairperson for Ntungamo district.

The president was shocked to get reports that some officials managing the PDM money asked the would-be beneficiaries for evidence of ownership or possession of land before they processed their money.

“The PDM guidelines do not require anyone to own land in order to benefit. What is needed is a viable project,” he emphasised.

The president cited the example of a man identified as Kenneth Ayesiga, a resident of Nyamirama in Kanungu district, who he plays in his videos he uses in teaching people at rallies, that he got PDM money, but that he had no land. 

An NRM supporter captures President Museveni as he arrived with the First Lady for their mega rally at Kyamate Primary School playground in Ntungamo district.

Jubilant NRM supporters display the First Lady's portrait as she arrived for a rally in her home Ntungamo district.

“But he used the PDM funds to rent premises and started a restaurant, which he named PDM Restaurant”.

He highlighted the money the district has so far received under the PDM and other government programmes for the last five years. 

He said Ntungamo has so far received sh53b through government programs, including PDM, Emyooga and the youth, women and disability support initiatives.

President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady greet NRM officials as they arrived at Kyamate Primary School playground for the latter's rally.

The district has so far received sh39.7b in PDM cash towards 2,600 enterprise groups.
He said the rehabilitation of the Kanungu road was ongoing and promised to improve the Mirama Hills-Kitwe-Ruborogota-Kikagati road. 

He said other roads, like the Kafunjo-Mirama Hills-Kagitumba route, had been worked on and completed, among other projects.

Speaking to the same audience earlier as the NRM district chairperson, Museveni informed people that Ntungamo has 242 government-aided primary schools, 22 secondary schools, three vocational institutions, and nearly where the government has so far invested sh2b in putting up school infrastructure.

The president and First Lady wave at NRM supporters, upon arrival at Kyamate Primary School playground for the NRM mega rally.

Since 2021, she explained, the government has maintained 57 roads and established 178 safe water sources.

 She, however, said as a matter of priority, the district intends to mobilise the youth and women to engage in government programs, establish new health facilities in underserved parishes and eliminate extra charges in Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education.

The district wants the government to increase funding for roads and the road units, among other priorities.

Museveni appealed to the NRM supporters to mobilise all eligible voters to turn out in big numbers on the polling day and vote for President Museveni and the NRM flag bearers.

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At Kyamate Primary School playground, Museveni appealed to the NRM supporters to mobilise all eligible voters to turn out in big numbers on the polling day and vote for President Museveni and the NRM flag bearers. Here is a picture highlight as captured by Multimedia journalist Eddie Ssejjoba;