While addressing the media from Amac Town Council recently, Senior Presidential Advisor Sam Engola commended President Yoweri Museveni’s initiative of the Parish Development Model (PDM) that has transformed the lives of the wanainchi in Lira District and the Lango sub-region as a whole. Engola said the LC1 chairpersons had received motorcycles as part of the program.
He added that after visiting Okello’s farm, which includes 350 cows, over 400 sheep, and several goats, Okello is now a model farmer who has also been donated a tractor and a solar pump.
Engola urged locals to embrace the initiative, describing it as a key lesson in socio-economic empowerment for the people of Lango sub-region.
His Excellency the President had a wealth creation tour focused on PDM in Amolatar, Kole Town Council, and Amach Town Council on January 28, 2025, where beneficiaries like Rose Akio from Kole and Apio Ojok shared their success stories about how the program has lifted them from poverty, reinforcing that poverty reduction is the way forward.
Speaking to the media shortly after the president’s speech, Engola reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Ugandan transforms their life economically through various government programs such as PDM, Emyooga, YLP, UWEP, and others. He stressed the need for people to transition from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
“The NRM government, under the able leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, is determined to economically empower every Ugandan. The Parish Development Model is here to stay, and we must all take full advantage of it. Our people must move away from subsistence farming and embrace commercial ventures,” stated Engola.
One of the key success stories of PDM is that of Vicky Apio, a farmer from Alingiri Village, Banya Ward, Amach Town Council, Erute South Constituency. Apio, a true PDM beneficiary, is an example of the program’s success in Lira District and the Lango sub-region. Apio shared that with the UGX 1 million she received from the PDM program, she invested in maize farming, purchasing 15 sacks of seeds. Today, she has moved to the next level with the support she received during the tour.
When President Museveni asked her about her success, Apio responded that her harvest of 45 bags of maize earned her UGX 2.8 million, which in turn allowed her to expand into livestock farming.
“This program has changed my life. I can now afford school fees, improve my home, and plan for bigger agricultural projects. I encourage others to embrace it,” she said.
Her testimony drew admiration from Engola, who urged more locals to utilize the funds effectively. He also promised that President Museveni would receive a substantial number of votes in 2026, citing the ongoing construction of Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, the Presidential Skilling Hub, and other initiatives.
“These success stories prove that PDM is real and improving the lives of our people. However, I must praise President Museveni for his vibrant efforts in ensuring that government programs reach the wanainchi at the grassroots level, thereby empowering them financially and helping them escape poverty,” said Engola.
Sam Engola is contesting under NRM as the Member of Parliament for Erute South in the 2026 elections.
