Fort Portal — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met with journalists from the Tooro sub-region at State Lodge-Fort Portal, where he reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating poverty through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Describing himself as a “preacher of economic transformation,” the President said the PDM is a strategic tool designed to uplift households by increasing incomes and improving living standards across Uganda.
“I come as a preacher to spread the gospel and assess those who have committed to live by it,” President Museveni told the journalists, emphasising that PDM is a mission to drive economic change from the grassroots.
Addressing concerns about corruption within the PDM, the President took a firm stance against the mismanagement of funds.
“Thieves of PDM should be jailed and serve as labourers—it would benefit the government,” he said, warning that public funds must be protected and urging the media to help expose any misuse.
During the engagement, journalists raised concerns about the implementation framework of PDM, noting that many beneficiaries lacked proper guidance on enterprise selection.
“The design of PDM is solid, but beneficiaries weren’t sensitised on how to choose the right enterprises,” one journalist observed.
In response, President Museveni clarified the original plan behind the Shs1 million disbursed per beneficiary, which was calculated based on coffee farming, estimating 250 seedlings per acre at Shs180,000, with the remaining funds meant for supplementary investments.
“We later expanded to include four sectors and seven priority activities within four acres or less to ensure inclusivity,” he explained. “Our advice was guided by market access and return on investment to ensure poverty is tackled sustainably.”
The President also urged journalists to be champions of national development, calling for patriotism and accurate reporting that supports mindset change and local participation in development efforts.
In a bid to strengthen transparency, President Museveni proposed the nomination of one journalist per district to be attached to the Presidential Press Unit to track and report on PDM activities in their areas.
To support the media fraternity in Tooro, he donated Shs100 million to the journalists’ SACCO and offered a van to aid their mobility and coverage.
On the matter of land disputes at Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa, the President promised resolution through land titling for occupants.
“They stole the land from the government, but we’ve decided to let them stay since it’s not environmentally sensitive. I will write about it,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who echoed the importance of government-media collaboration in driving Uganda’s development agenda.