By Waiswa Michael Baluye
During the recent Thanksgiving ceremony of the Honorable Minister for Presidency, Hon Milly Babalanda —graced by the presence of His Excellency the President—the LC1 Chairperson, in his welcoming remarks, made a heartfelt appeal to the Government to increase the Parish Development Model (PDM) allocation from UGX 100 million to UGX 200 million.
As a monitor of the PDM program, I was greatly encouraged by this request, as it mirrors the very concerns and appeals I regularly receive from community members—many of whom are still awaiting their first disbursement.
Some parishes are vast and densely populated. The current allocation is insufficient to accommodate all eligible beneficiaries. An increase in funding would significantly expand coverage, enhance economic participation, and allow a greater number of residents to benefit from the initiative.
As the grace period for the initial batch of recipients draws to a close, it is critical to emphasize the importance of timely loan repayments. These repayments are essential to ensure that other SACCO members can also access the funds. However, there is a growing concern that some beneficiaries may be unwilling or unmotivated to repay their loans. Incentives and continued sensitization are recommended to encourage compliance.
Furthermore, I urge district leaders—particularly those in the District Commercial Office—to intensify community engagement and sensitization efforts to promote transparency, accessibility, and sustainability of the program.
It is also crucial to address some of the challenges being reported at the SACCO level. These include:
Allegations of corruption, where some PDM SACCO leaders demand kickbacks from beneficiaries before disbursing funds.
Favoritism, where leaders prioritize their relatives or inner circles over the wider community.
These practices undermine the integrity and goals of the PDM program and must be addressed with urgency.
Despite these challenges, the community is overwhelmingly grateful for the PDM initiative. With the proposed increase in funding and improved oversight, the program has the potential to transform livelihoods across the country.
Recommendation:
That the Government urgently considers increasing the PDM allocation from UGX 100 million to UGX 200 million per parish.
That mechanisms be put in place to improve transparency, recovery of funds, and equitable access by all eligible members.
Baluye Michael Waiswa
ONC Coordinator – BUYENDE DISTRICT
