The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Ramadhan Ggoobi, has urged for the effective implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program following the disbursement of shillings 1.059 trillion to 10,585 groups on behalf of the government. Speaking before the parliamentary committee on finance, Ggoobi emphasized the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, to ensure the success of the program.
Ggoobi reported that the funds were successfully sent directly to the bank accounts of 10,585 PDM savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOS) nationwide. He highlighted that 1,627,307 members from 148,320 enterprise groups have already benefited from the national rollout of the PDM.
The PDM, launched in February 2022 by President Yoweri Museveni, aims to support the 39% of households still engaged in subsistence farming to transition into the money economy. Museveni, who also serves as the NRM national chairperson, expressed the goal of moving 3.5 million households from subsistence farming to the money economy through the PDM.
The President emphasized that the parish will serve as a vital vehicle for data gathering, area-based enterprise selection, provision of financial services, and the development of basic infrastructure such as roads and electricity. Additionally, the PDM will focus on community mobilization, mindset change, and services like soil testing, quality farming inputs, extension services, and mechanization.
Museveni emphasized that the PDM is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to socio-economic transformation, bringing government services closer to the people. The program is expected to facilitate actionable feedback from the public on wealth creation and government-provided services, ultimately speeding up socio-economic transformation.
