President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised the fishing community to refrain from seeking financial support from the Parish Development Model (PDM) fund, assuring them that the government will instead develop a dedicated fisheries sector fund that aligns with their capital needs.
The President Yoweri said this as he resumed his PDM assessment tour in Bunyoro Sub-Region on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as part of his ongoing assessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) implementation.
This follows appeals from local leaders in Buliisa District and representatives from the fishing community, who asked the government to allow them to borrow beyond the Shs1 million cap set under PDM.
Buliisa County MP Allan Atugonza said that fishermen require larger loans due to the high costs of their operations.
“A single standard fishing boat costs about Shs30 million,” he explained, arguing that the Shs1 million limit is insufficient to support their businesses.
In response, President Museveni reiterated that PDM funds are specifically tailored for small-scale agriculture and micro-enterprises, urging fishermen to wait for a separate, more suitable financial initiative that the government will design to meet their needs.
The president’s remarks signal a shift in policy, as the government now plans to establish a fisheries-focused fund to support large-scale investments in the sector. However, details on when and how this new financing scheme will be rolled out remain undisclosed.
During his maiden Parish Development Model (PDM) assessment tour in Bunyoro Kingdom, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni lauded the success of Mr. Titus Tumusiime, a PDM beneficiary from Butiaba Sub County, Buliisa District, who has made remarkable strides in piggery farming.
Tumusiime, one of the first recipients of the PDM funds, used the financial support to establish a pig farming project, growing his stock from zero to 16 pigs despite facing some challenges.
Impressed by his progress, President Museveni pledged an additional UGX 10 million to help him expand his farm. Furthermore, the government will contribute UGX 25 million towards the establishment of a feeds mill to address the issue of unreliable animal feed supply in the area.
The PDM program aims to uplift Ugandans from subsistence to commercial production, and Tumusiime’s success is a testament to its impact in transforming local livelihoods.
