RWAMPARA, Uganda— The Parish Development Model, a Ugandan government initiative, is proving to be a viable path out of poverty for both rural and urban residents, according to beneficiaries and government officials. The program, which distributes funds directly to parishes, aims to uplift the 39% of the population living in poverty.

Tom Ariho, a farmer and former struggling retailer in Rwampara district, represents a success story for the program. After his retail business failed, leaving him in debt and facing eviction, Ariho accessed 1 million Ugandan shillings (about $260 USD) through the PDM. He has since established a successful restaurant and reports no difficulties in repaying the loan.

“The business was not doing well,” Ariho said, explaining his previous struggles. “He started having issues with his landlord and made a decision to close shop and relocate near his home. He got information from the local leaders that government had brought PDM to get people out of poverty. He began processing for the fund and he was successful, he got Shs 1m today, today he owns one of the best restaurants.”

The PDM provides each parish with 100 million shillings, with individual beneficiaries receiving 1 million shillings to start income-generating activities, which they are expected to repay. The program was rolled out in early 2022 to address poverty among Uganda’s 43 million people.

Rwampara East Constituency Member of Parliament, Julius Tusiime, emphasized that the PDM is not exclusively for rural dwellers, but is equally vital for urban residents struggling financially.

“Most of the people running restaurants, salons, food stalls are in Kampala, though some are upcountry,” Tusiime told PMLdaily, noting that urban residents are often in dire need of such funds.

Tusiime highlighted that the PDM can significantly improve household incomes, particularly for those earning daily wages between 20,000 and 50,000 shillings. He suggested profitable enterprises for investment include salons, food stalls, and children’s item businesses.

The MP urged fellow legislators and leaders to avoid spreading misinformation about the program, which could discourage participation.

“I am doing village-to-village visits to see how PDM has transformed the lives of my people,” Tusiime said. “Several of them have educated their children, expanded to other businesses and their families are happy.”

President Yoweri Museveni in February began assessing the impact of the PDM in the Ankole sub-region, underscoring the government’s commitment to the program. The PDM is one of several government initiatives, including Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation, designed to empower Ugandans financially.