PDM Assessment: Success, Failure, or Political Tool?
President Museveni’s ongoing nationwide assessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) has brought to light both achievements and challenges, including corruption scandals that have led to the arrest of several officials.
The President has emphasised a zero-tolerance stance on embezzlement, directing Regional Police Commanders (RPCs) not to grant police bonds to suspects accused of stealing PDM funds.
Keep Reading
NRM spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo insists the initiative is largely successful, pointing to numerous positive outcomes.
“Many beneficiaries have multiplied their funds. People are happy,” Dombo remarked, suggesting the program will enhance the party’s popularity ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Nakaseke MP Lutamaguzi Ssemakula, however, is critical of the initiative, describing it as a political tool disguised as development. “This is all political rhetoric ahead of 2026 and a failure.
President Museveni owes Ugandans an apology for this failed project because we warned him,” he said. Lutamaguzi also criticised the government for focusing on cash handouts instead of creating an enabling environment for sustainable development.
“There is no government that has made its people rich by distributing cash, not even illiterate Amin could do it,” he added.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong defended the program but acknowledged areas needing improvement. “The ongoing assessment will guide the government on whether to continue, modify, or end the Parish Development Model,” he said, maintaining that the initiative has achieved measurable success despite setbacks.
The opposition, however, continues to question the program’s impact, arguing that corruption and poor planning have undermined its goals.
They have called for greater transparency and accountability, urging the government to refocus its efforts on structural reforms rather than direct cash transfers.
About the PDM
Launched in 2021, the Parish Development Model was designed to address poverty by channeling funds directly to parish-level groups for investment in production and wealth creation.
With an ambitious goal of moving 39% of Ugandans out of subsistence farming, the program has been praised for its potential but criticised for corruption, mismanagement, and poor implementation in some areas.
As President Museveni’s tour continues, the future of the PDM hangs in the balance, with the government promising to make decisions based on the findings of the ongoing assessment.
