President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended Biira Pelucy, a visually impaired poultry farmer and Chairperson of Persons With Disabilities in Kasese Municipality, for turning her life around through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Once a beggar, Ms. Biira now runs a successful poultry enterprise with 750 chickens at her home in Kasese, earning millions of shillings and living a life of dignity and self-reliance.
President Museveni, who launched his PDM presidential tour in the Rwenzori subregion on Tuesday, praised Biira’s story as a powerful example of what the government has long championed: empowering households to generate income and escape poverty.
“This has been my message since the 1960s in Nyabushozi. I advised our people to settle and rear dairy cows. Later, we included this strategy in the 1996 NRM Manifesto under the Four-Acre Model,” the President said, outlining the model’s pillars of cash crops, fruits, pasture, food, and backyard poultry, with fish farming for those near wetlands.
He reiterated that programmes like PDM and Emyooga are meant to support ordinary Ugandans, stressing that the money belongs to the people. “If you don’t follow up on this money and use it, you’re not only failing yourselves, but also the government that wants to get you out of poverty,” Museveni added.
Moved by her resilience, the President donated Shs20 million to Ms. Biira to help fence her poultry farm and buy a means of transport for her business.
Ms. Biira shared that despite her success, access to water remains a major challenge after her meter was removed due to arrears. She now relies on water purchased from neighbours or National Water standpoints. The President responded by directing the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently address rural water access.
Biira expressed heartfelt thanks to the President and the PDM initiative. “I used to be a beggar. Now, I can manage my needs, take care of my treatment, and run a business that gives me dignity,” she said.
President Museveni also aimed at law enforcement and judicial officers who fail to protect communities, warning: “Any policeman giving bond to thieves will be arrested.” He called on local leaders such as LC3s and LCVs to be proactive problem solvers in their communities.
The Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Godfrey Kabyanga, also lauded Ms. Biira’s courage and entrepreneurial drive. He thanked the President for the PDM programme, noting that it is transforming lives across the country.
