The former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Professor Ezra Suruma has today delivered a lecture of opportunity to Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Service Chiefs about the usefulness of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in eradicating poverty.
This was during a Chief’s Forum held at Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
He said the vision of the PDM is to make sure that every household in Uganda engages in income generating activities so that it can be social economically transformed to improve the quality of life of all beneficiaries.
“If one has the minimum income, it enables them to afford basic human needs such as food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education,” explained Prof Suruma.
He said the PDM was identified to operate under the National Development Plan Three (NDPIII) as a vehicle through which household incomes and quality of life of Ugandans will be improved.
He added that the PDM will provide an optimum opportunity for government to reach every household and ultimately every individual. “This reduces the gap between the government and people,” he said.
The Professor applauded UPDF for providing peace and stability, and engaging in other productive projects, like Operation Wealth Creation, among others.
The UPDF Joint Chief of Staff Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda commended Prof Suruma for sparing his time to talk to UPDF Service Chiefs and other officers.
He also emphasized the need for citizens to get sensitized about the benefits of the Parish Development Model in eliminating poverty.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) aims at raising Per Capita income, especially of the peasants currently in subsistence existence, attaining sustained full employment of parish resources including labor, and to bring government down to the people.
The Forum was attended by all UPDF Service Chiefs.