Since President Museveni captured power in 1986, he has introduced several poverty eradication programs such as Naads, Emyooga, NUSAF, and the current Parish Development Model (PDM).
These programs aim to combat poverty at the household level. For starters, the Wealth Creation Agenda (WCA) typically refers to a strategic plan or initiative aimed at generating wealth, economic growth and prosperity for individuals, communities and nations.
The agenda often focuses on: entrepreneurship development, investment promotion, job creation, innovation and technology, education and skills development, infrastructure development and economic diversification, among others.
The Wealth Creation Agenda is implemented through various programs, policies and initiatives, such as: business incubators and accelerators, mentorship programs, access to finance and funding, tax incentives and policies, trade and investment promotions, etc.
The ultimate goal is to create a thriving economy that benefits all stakeholders, promotes financial inclusion, and reduces poverty. When examining President Museveni’s achievements, it is evident that these efforts are progressing, leading to a gradual reduction in poverty levels.
Recently, while monitoring PDM performance in Bududa and Butiru, President Museveni challenged leaders, particularly chairpersons at different levels and sub-county chiefs, to document the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model. This, he said, would help the government track the program’s effectiveness.
The president emphasized that by collecting data on the beneficiaries (families) per parish, the government could monitor how many people have benefited from the PDM. His plan is to allocate Shs 100 million to 100 homesteads per year.
This means that in three years, 300 homesteads would be covered. In the third year, those who received Shs 1 million would start returning it. Consequently, within five years, each parish would have Shs 500 million from new funding and an additional Shs 300 million returned by previous borrowers, making it Shs 800 million in their parish bank.
Over two terms, the parish could accumulate Shs 1.6 billion. On October 15, 2023, a beneficiary, Mr Namukhono from Manafwa, received Shs 1 million through the PDM. After withdrawing Shs 990,000 (after a Shs 10,000 bank charge), he purchased a heifer for Shs 700,000 and two pigs at Shs 100,000 each.
Six months later, he sold the cow for Shs 1.2 million and earned Shs 200,000 from selling four piglets. He used the total Shs 1.4 million to purchase an in-calf cow, which has since given birth and provides five litres of milk daily. Impressed by his success, President Museveni supported him with Shs 12 million to buy two additional cows and expand his dairy project.
Similarly, Moses Kutosi, another PDM beneficiary from Shanemba village, Bududa district, received Shs 980,000 in 2023. He used the funds to purchase three pigs for Shs 300,000. One pig produced nine piglets, five of which he sold for Shs 500,000.
Later, he sold two original pigs for Shs 1.6 million, which he used to buy a heifer. The cow now provides four litres of milk daily, earning him Shs 4,000 per day, Shs 28,000 per week, and Shs 112,000 monthly. However, he expressed concern about the high costs of animal feed, especially for pigs, which affects his enterprise.
The PDM is a government strategy aimed at eradicating poverty and fostering socio-economic transformation in Uganda. By focusing on the parish as the lowest administrative and operational hub, it delivers inclusive and sustainable development through production, financial inclusion, and improved service delivery.
The writer is an assistant private secretary to President Museveni on Youth Affairs
Poverty recipe:
– Poor prenatal care
– Poor infant nutrition
– Excessive use of chemicals in agriculture
– Poor education standards
– Bad infrastructure including roads, hospitals, schools
– Poor housing policy
– Colonialism mentality & poor alliances
– Bad politics including “abanyampi”
– King & subjects culture
– Top-heavy government structures
– Small scale projects with very huge monitoring costs e.g. PDM seeks $18M just to monitor that program
– Poor budgeting & expenditure … more consumption based
– Excessive debts … we even borrow to pay salaries
– Lack of exposure
– Brain drainage & modern slavery
– Tribalism among citizens
– Lack of creativity
– Singing success of all these failed initiatives therefore shutting the door on honest reviews and improvements
– Shutting out advice or deferring opinions
– Poor or even lack of succession at all levels
– Power culture
– Bad land laws
– Bad industry & poor pay + dying industries
– Red carpet for foreigners & no support for locals
– Tax holidays, incentives and grants to foreigners
– Bad police and active militarization
– Poor justice system
– Unclear taxes / customs
– 24/7 entertainment & alcoholism
It is people like you who mislead Ugandans. The country is doing very well, the economy, the institutions, the infrastructure and we have reached the middle status. You have been brain drained and only see a perfect country whose government and leaders should be confirmed in their seats for life. HOG WASH.