President Yoweri Museveni has today launched the much talked about Parish Development Model (PDM) -a program which government has promised will lift some 17.5 million Ugandans in 3.5 million households out of poverty in the next four years. The colourful launch ceremony was held in Kibuku district . At least each parish will get some 17M this financial year but will be scaled up to 100M per parish in the next financial year .
Each parish shall get a tractor, two motor cycles, a computer set complete with the internet to capture data in real time.
President Museveni explained that the Parish Development Model which will be driven by local leaders from the parish the parish level -is a model designed under seven pillars which include production, storage, processing and marketing; infrastructure and economic services; financial inclusion; social services; mindset change; parish based management information system; governance and administration.
Some 5,000 jobs have been created already and recruitment of Ugandans who will supervise the program at parish level-largely the youth is on going .
The launch of Shs 490 billion PDM is meant to eradicate poverty through execution of development activities at the parishes, was attended by senior government officials who included the Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime minister Robinah Nabbanja Minister of Local Government, Hon Raphael Magyezi, among others.
Magyezi said there will be launch of parish Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOS) through which people will be able to obtain financing for development. “We have 10,594 parishes. The money in the budget for the revolving fund is Shs 17m per parish and is with the Chief Administrative Officer,” said Magyezi.
The PDM replaces the Emyooga, a presidential initiative on wealth and job creation, was rolled out in October 2020 to support among others, market vendors, welders, taxi drivers, boda-boda riders, women and restaurant owners who come together in form of SACCOS.
According to Magyezi, the launch will include a demonstration of the parish based Management Information System and commissioning of the Community Tractor Scheme, a key pillar of the parish model that seeks to boost productivity.
