PostBank Uganda has disbursed a total of Shs1 trillion to beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) through Wendi, a digital wallet developed to drive financial inclusion at the grassroots.
George William Kiyingi, PostBank’s Head of Agent Banking and Fintech Distribution, confirmed the milestone in a recent interview. “We received Shs500 billion in January this year, and 100% of that has been disbursed to all the parish SACCO group accounts. Over 90% of those funds have already reached the individual beneficiaries,” he said. “Another Shs500 billion came in at the start of June and has also been fully dispatched from the bank.”
Kiyingi highlighted Wendi’s transformative role in rural financial access. “Before Wendi, people had to travel long distances—from Nakapiripirit to Moroto, or from Pallisa to Mbale—just to open a bank account. Now, all you need is a national ID and a phone. In minutes, you’re registered,” he explained. Since 2024, PostBank has already onboarded over 1.3 million PDM beneficiaries, with the number continuing to grow.
A major innovation behind Wendi’s success is its integration with the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS)—the government’s centralised platform for managing PDM loan approvals.
“Since February 2024, Wendi checks PDMIS before releasing any funds. If a loan isn’t approved in the system, the transaction is automatically blocked,” said Kiyingi. “This integration has improved transparency, accountability, and reduced disbursement errors.”
To ensure financial governance, Wendi requires group account transactions to be unanimously approved by three SACCO leaders—the chairperson, secretary, and treasurer. “If even one of them declines, the transaction won’t go through,” Kiyingi noted.
Beyond disbursing funds, Wendi promotes a savings and repayment culture. “We offer up to 10% annual interest on savings made through Wendi,” said Kiyingi. “It’s an incentive to help Ugandans develop a habit of saving.”
PostBank also plans to roll out follow-on loans via Wendi for beneficiaries who repay their initial PDM loans. “We want to support the transition from subsistence to sustainability,” Kiyingi emphasised. “Wendi is not just a disbursement tool—it’s a platform for long-term empowerment.”
Looking ahead, PostBank is working to extend Wendi’s reach to every part of Uganda, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward inclusive financial access.
