President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed local leaders in Kampala’s five divisions to collect accurate data on household numbers in each parish to enable a fairer distribution of funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Speaking during a visit to Kyambogo Complex Parish in Nakawa Division on Saturday, the President said the current model of uniformly allocating UGX 100 million per parish annually does not reflect the higher population density and financial demands in urban areas like Kampala.
“So, this is the kibalo (calculation) I want in the town: to know how many parishes and how many homesteads are in each parish so that when we plan, we shall give over one million, plus some additional funding, based on the number of homes in that parish,” President Museveni said.
He emphasized that a data-driven approach would help tailor PDM funds more effectively, especially for urban communities with greater economic needs.
The President was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni. Together, they met PDM beneficiaries, including Mbabazi Lillian, a standout poultry farmer who used her UGX 1 million PDM funding to build a thriving business.
Mbabazi began with 125 broiler chicks and reinvested her earnings through multiple cycles of poultry production. She eventually transitioned to layer chicken farming and now collects six trays of eggs daily. She credited the PDM with transforming her life after hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now I have some achievement because I was badly off due to COVID-19. My children now go to school, and we’re doing well. I have UGX 3 million in savings and have also started a small juice and chips business,” Mbabazi said.
However, she voiced concern over operating on land owned by Kyambogo University, which limits her ability to expand. In response, President Museveni offered her UGX 10 million to grow her business and pledged to buy her two acres of land for permanent settlement and farming.
“When I come here and see that Rukundo and Mbabazi have implemented one of the seven items under the four-acre model, then I feel very happy,” he said.
He also gave UGX 10 million to each PDM beneficiary from the parish.
Reflecting on Uganda’s economic history, President Museveni traced the country’s struggle to shift from a subsistence economy to a money-based one. He recalled that in the 1960s, only 4% of households were part of the cash economy, relying instead on traditional crops like cotton, coffee, tea, tobacco, copper, and tourism.
He explained that the introduction of the four-acre model aimed to transform rural livelihoods by encouraging farmers to engage in commercial agriculture and small-scale enterprises like poultry and piggery.
“Those who listened have moved. Masaka focused on coffee and is doing well. Poultry and dairy are also transforming lives,” he noted.
The President also recounted the evolution of government-led wealth creation programs—from Entandikwa to NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC). While OWC improved outreach, he said issues of favoritism arose.
“I started hearing stories that the soldiers were ‘baali beegabira bokka’ (giving to friends and relatives), spoiling the name of the UPDF. I told them, let the army get out. Let’s give money directly to people at their parishes. If they misuse it, God is there; he will deal with them,” he added.
President Museveni cited Mbabazi’s success as proof that direct disbursement of funds under the PDM is working.
Using Kawempe Division as an example, he noted that the area has received UGX 6.6 billion over three years, with 7,000 households benefiting. He urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity and avoid costly moneylenders.
“You don’t need a moneylender who charges UGX 400,000 per month, UGX 5.8 million a year. With PDM, you return UGX 1 million plus UGX 120,000 interest in two years,” he explained.
He reminded communities that PDM funds are revolving and must be shared patiently and fairly.
The event marked one of the final stops of Museveni’s national PDM sensitization tour, which has taken him across Uganda to monitor program impact and inspire uptake. The final rally is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.
Several top government officials attended the Kyambogo event, including Government Chief Whip Hamson Denis Obua, National PDM Coordinator Denis Galabuzi Ssozi, KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, her deputy Benon Kigenyi, and Presidential Advisors Hajjat Sarah Kanyike and Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi.
