Policy expert Paul Rukundo has highlighted the transformative potential of the Parish Development Model (PDM), emphasizing its unique focus on parish-level management as a key driver of socio-economic development in Uganda.
Speaking to Samson Kasumba during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Thursday, Rukundo noted that decentralization is the distinguishing feature of the program.
“What is different when we look at the Parish Development Model compared to other programs is that this one is managed at the parish level. The decentralisation of this project is a very important aspect,” he said.
Rukundo described the PDM as a locally generated policy aimed at moving households from subsistence farming into the monetized economy.
“I think the President cares about the common person, which is why we have the PDM in place to ensure that those not involved in large-scale production or capital-intensive projects have meaningful work,” he said.
Rukundo also emphasized the program’s impact on agriculture. Many beneficiaries who received PDM funds for coffee farming also benefited from government interventions providing improved seedlings to boost production.
“The contribution of PDM to the coffee sector is huge,” he said.
On critics of the program, Rukundo argued that constructive feedback should include alternatives.
“If you say PDM has failed, I would also expect you to provide alternatives and explain what the program lacks. You can say the program is good but needs certain improvements, and if adjustments are made in a particular direction, it will work much better. That is how we can build this country,” he said.
Launched in 2022, the Parish Development Model is a multi-sectoral initiative designed to ensure that every Ugandan, particularly those in rural areas, participates in the monetized economy.
The program focuses on structured interventions in agriculture, enterprise development, financial access, and infrastructure.
The PDM positions the parish—Uganda’s smallest administrative unit—as the center of planning, implementation, supervision, and accountability.
Each parish receives Shs 100 million annually to fund income-generating activities targeting subsistence households, with the aim of shifting communities into the money economy.
In recent remarks, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, disclosed that since 1st July 2021, the government has invested Shs3.788 trillion into the PDM, capitalizing 10,589 eligible PDM SACCOs.
Ggoobi said the program has now entered the Sustainability and Acceleration Phase, which will be implemented on a village-by-village basis.
He instructed all Local Government accounting officers to fully budget for all PDM activities, including Extension, Production, and Marketing grants, to ensure smooth implementation.
Ggoobi further directed that activities related to compiling the SPEAR report and developing Parish Action Plans should be financed under the Discretionary Development Equalisation Grant (DDEG), emphasizing tighter alignment between parish-level planning and fiscal allocations.