Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) councilors have been urged to take an active role in implementing the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government program designed to lift households out of poverty by focusing on development at the grassroots.
This call was made during a three-day strategic retreat in Entebbe (May 14–16), where KCCA’s political and technical wings converged to align their service delivery strategies with the PDM, National Development Plan IV, the KCCA Strategic Plan (2025–2030), and the Client Charter.
According to Robert Ssendegeya from the PDM Secretariat, the program seeks to transition 3.5 million Ugandan households from subsistence farming into the money economy, with the parish as the nucleus for planning and implementation.
“PDM is not just about distributing money. It is a comprehensive development model that requires coordination across all its pillars from financial inclusion to governance and mindset change,” said Ssendegeya.
Kampala’s 98 parishes have so far disbursed a total of UGX 19.257 billion under the Parish Revolving Fund for the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24 benefiting 19,257 individuals.
Each parish has so far received not less than UGX 300 million to support income-generating activities through SACCOs.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki commended the councilors for their support and emphasized the need for deeper involvement in implementation and oversight.
“The success of PDM depends on your leadership at the local level. Councilors must not only support the program but also track its impact and ensure transparency,” Buzeki said.
The Lord Mayor of Kampala, His Worship Erias Lukwago, also encouraged councilors to closely monitor projects in their areas and ensure quality service delivery.
“Be interested in what is happening in your parishes. All projects, must be implemented well to the required standards,” Lukwago said.
The retreat, which brought together councilors, the Lord Mayor, Executive Director, and senior technical teams, focused on harmonizing efforts to accelerate service delivery in Kampala.
“We must work together without commotion if we are to provide quality services. Let us align our energies to the needs of the people,” The KCCA Council Speaker Zahara Maala Luyirika remarked during the session.
As KCCA prepares to roll out its Strategic Plan for 2025–2030, the Parish Development Model is expected to remain a central pillar in transforming urban communities and achieving inclusive development.