Fort Portal – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government’s commitment to eradicating poverty through the Parish Development Model (PDM), describing it as a strategic continuation of the movement’s long-standing philosophy to uplift the poor.
Speaking during a meeting with journalists from the Rwenzori sub-region at State Lodge Fort Portal, President Museveni emphasised that the PDM initiative is rooted in NRM’s early ideology from the 1960s.
“The Parish Development Model is not just a government program—it is part of our original belief that no Ugandan should live in poverty. Even before Amin’s regime, we were mobilising people in Ankole by walking through kraals, educating them despite having no money. Education alone made a difference,” Museveni said.
The President defended the Shs1 million given to each eligible household under the PDM, noting it was based on the cost of starting income-generating activities such as coffee farming.
“To plant an acre of Robusta coffee, you needed 450 seedlings costing about Shs180,000. That leaves Shs820,000 for digging and other tasks. That was our initial benchmark,” he explained. “But we’re not rigid. We can increase the amount over time. The goal is to move people from money-less-ness to earning income.”
Museveni highlighted that the PDM is designed to directly benefit the poorest Ugandans through SACCOs—unlike previous programs such as Entandikwa, NAADS, and Operation Wealth Creation, which relied on government officials to select beneficiaries. “This is just the beginning. The funds are revolving. As more people graduate from poverty, we can expand support to those with small-scale means,” he added.
He cited success stories from the program, including Pelucy Biira, a blind 65-year-old from Kasese, and Steven Kisembo, a farmer from Ntoroko, who are now running small businesses after receiving PDM support.
The President also revealed that a separate funding program would be created for fishermen, especially on Lake Albert, who require more substantial capital. “They need at least Shs4 million to buy boats and nets. We shall design a fund specifically for them,” he said.
Addressing concerns over poor rural roads, Museveni criticised local government leaders for failing to prioritise road maintenance despite increased funding. “We raised the road maintenance budget from Shs300 million to Shs1.3 billion. In areas like Obongi and Kibuku, roads are well-maintained. Poor roads in other regions are a result of poor planning,” he said.
He supported a journalist’s proposal to provide computers for parish chiefs and warned against illegal deductions from PDM funds. “No deductions should be made. Bank charges are covered by the government. Anyone who deducts from this money will be jailed,” he warned.
Museveni also called for stronger efforts to protect the environment, particularly discouraging settlement on steep mountain slopes, as a measure against the adverse effects of climate change.
To appreciate and empower the media, the President pledged to support the Rwenzori sub-region journalists’ SACCO with Shs100 million and promised to buy them a minibus.
The President is currently on a performance assessment tour of the Rwenzori sub-region, focusing on the implementation and impact of the Parish Development Model.