By Waiswa Michael Baluye
The government of Uganda embarked on the Parish Development Model (PDM) with the goal of transforming the livelihoods of its citizens, particularly by boosting household incomes.
Billions of shillings have been invested into this initiative, yet its success remains threatened by mismanagement and misuse of funds by some beneficiaries.
One of the key issues is the abuse of work plans that beneficiaries submit. In some cases, the funds have been diverted towards non-productive ventures, such as weddings, rather than the intended economic activities.
This misuse undermines the program’s goals and compromises its impact on poverty reduction.
A contributing factor to this problem is the inadequate commercial education provided to the beneficiaries. Many individuals do not have the financial literacy or business acumen required to manage their projects effectively.
Additionally, some officials within PDM SACCOS have misled beneficiaries by falsely labeling the UGX 100 million provided as a “gift” from the government, rather than a loan to be repaid with interest.
This misunderstanding has contributed to a lack of accountability and responsible financial management.
There is an urgent need to address these gaps by offering proper commercial education and financial literacy training to beneficiaries. Ensuring that participants understand the long-term goals of the PDM, the responsibilities tied to the funds, and the potential benefits of sustainable business ventures will be critical in achieving the program’s objectives.
Only with proper knowledge and responsible handling of resources can the Parish Development Model truly help to uplift Uganda’s communities.
The writer is the ONC coordinator in Buyende district.
