Vice President Jessica Alupo has urged school administrators and teachers to work with the government in educating the public on the benefits of the Parish Development Model,(PDM) as a way of encouraging the growth of household incomes.
The vice president, who was presiding over the end of a training session for 1,490 students from patriotism clubs across Katakwi District, said she was concerned about the low uptake of PDM funds by the locals. She said the programme would not harm those applying for the funds.
“People here are still lukewarm against the PDM fearing that if they get a loan they may fail to pay, their land will be taken, they will be criminals or monies in their accounts will be depleted. I call on teachers and headteachers to engage in information sharing with locals.” She said
She further stated that besides the PDM, the government has several other poverty alleviation programs in place that locals can benefit from like the Entandikwa, NAADs , Women Fund ,Youth Livelihood fund, Operation wealth creation among others.
Katakwi District Local Government in June 2023, disbursed PDM funds to beneficiaries in 109 parishes across 20 sub counties. In a function presided over by the VP at the district headquarters in Ngariam subcounty, on June 23,2023, over 120 million shillings was disbursed.
The government recently released 50 million shillings for each parish developmental model. The government has also included 100 billion shillings in the 2023/2024 financial year budget for the Emyooga programme . This will to go towards skills development mainly for those not catered for under the ongoing PDM programme, according to the State Minister of Finance in Charge of General Duties Henry Musasizi.
The President launched the PDM programme in February 2022. PDM targets only 39% of Ugandans that are living hand to mouth (those not in the money economy). That is about 18 million people.
Under the PDM funds for youth and women are incorporated in Parish model whereby youth and women run enterprises respectively take 30% of the PDM funds while PWDs, and the elderly 10% each while 20% goes to the rest and administration.
PDM is considered to be the optimum level for Government to reach every household and ultimately every individual.
The NRM government has introduced several poverty alleviation programs like Entandikwa credit scheme of the mid-1990s, through Bonnabagagawale (Prosperity for All), Zoning, Four-acre model, Youth Livelihood, Youth Entrepreneur Scheme, and Women Empowerment Fund, to the latest projects like Operation Wealth Creation of 2013, and Emyooga of 2019.