The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a Government strategy or approach for organizing and delivering Public and Private Sector interventions for Wealth Creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic Planning Unit.

This will ensure support for more Ugandans to increase their demand for goods and services.

The purpose of the PDM is to:

-     Deepen the decentralization process

-     Improve Household incomes

-     Enable inclusive sustainable balanced and equitable Socio-Economic transformation.

 Objectives of PDM

The overall objective is to increase the effectiveness of the interaction between the Government and its people in order to accelerate the realization of Governments long term goal of Socio-Economic transformation.

 The PDM is implemented along seven pillars namely:

Agricultural value chain Development (Production, storage, processing and marketing

Infrastructure and Economic Services.

Financial inclusion

Social services

Community mobilization and mindset change

Parish – Based management Information System

Governance and Administration.

Major achievements in the implementation of Parish Development Model (PDM).

-    The District recruited all 167 Parish Chiefs for all 167 Parishes/Wards in Kyenjojo

167 PDM SACCOs were formed and Executive Committees for PDM SACCOs were trained on their roles in the implementation of PDM.

167 PDM SACCO Bank accounts were opened i.e 121 Bank Accounts in Centenary Bank and 46 Bank Accounts in Opportunity Bank.

Annual General Meetings (AGMs) for PDM SACCOs were held which put in place substantive executive committee.

In FY 2022/2023 a total of shs. 18,309,838,579 (Eighteen billion three hundred nine million eight thirty thousand five seventy nine shillings) was credited to PDM SACCO accounts from Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development for disbursement to beneficiaries.

18,103,184,674 (Eighteen billion one hundred three million one eighty four thousand six seventy four shillings only) was disbursed to 18,303 beneficiaries in the district.

Training of PDM SACCO executive committee members on their roles in the implementation of PDM conducted in all 167 parishes/ wards.

Training of CDOs and Parish Chiefs on  uploading data for beneficiaries on PDMIS system completed

All beneficiaries of PRF opened bank accounts in centenary and opportunity banks for disbursement of PDM funds.

The District is grateful to the support made by Government of Uganda towards supporting households that are still in 39% category of subsistence economy.

 NOTE:

All PDM fund beneficiaries are required to be verified during village meetings before accessing funds. This is done through conducting village meetings to confirm their eligibility. Beneficiaries of PDM funds are households that are still in subsistence economy. During the selection of beneficiaries of PDM funds, he following criteria has to be followed:

-     30% of the funds are allocated to women

-     30% of the funds are allocated to youth

-     10% of the funds are allocated to PWDs

-     10% of the funds are allocated to elderly

-     20% of the funds are allocated to men.

During FY 2023/2024 each PDM SACCO was allocated 1,000,000= and these are funds for administrative costs for PDC leaders. Also each PDM SACCO was allocated 500,000/= to enable PDM SACCO leaders monitor the implementation of PDM activities in their parishes.

 Implementation of Parish Development Model in FY 2023/2024

A total of shs 16,683, 000,000 (Sixteen billion six hundred eighty three million shillings only ) was credited on PDM SACCO accounts the FY 2023/2024. i.e each PDM SACCO received 100.500,000=  ( 100m for Parish Revolving Funds and 500,000 for  PDM SACCO leaders to monitor the implementation of PDM activities in their parishes).

 Challenges Encountered during the implementation of PDM activities

There is no specific funding allocated to the implementation of PDM activities i.e.  no budget for PDM administrative costs for stakeholders at various levels.

The PDMIS is at times on and off.

Over expectation by the public to receive PRF and yet PDM funds are for selected poor households.

 Emphasis made during sensitizations on the implementation of Parish Development Model.

-    The loan amount for each borrower should be one million

-    The grace period for the PRF loan shall be 2-3 years.

-    Disbursement of all PRF funds shall be through the Wendi Mobile Wallet

-    The interest payable on PRF loans shall be 6% per annum

-    District Agricultural Officers,  District Veterinary Officers to sensitize the population on modern farming practices through television and radio programs

-    PRF beneficiaries should be recommended through community meetings

-    Payment of 100,000= Per month per Parish Chief as an allowance for rent and bicycle repair.

100% of the beneficiaries that received funds in the first phase of disbursements must be duly registered on the PDMIS including their household code, NIN and telephone contacts and the details of their loans must be captured on the system.

-    A borrower of PRF must be a members of the respective PDM SACCO

-    Any interest earned by PDM SACCO should be added on the revolving funds and used in line with the financial inclusion pillar 3.

-   Accounting Officers shall also ensure that their lower local government’s staff are adequately supervised to regularly follow up and support the beneficiaries to succeed in their enterprises.

-   There should be no commissions whatever paid by the PRF beneficiaries to  PDM SACCO executives, Parish  Chiefs, LCII and LCIII Chairpersons, Technical Officers etc.

PDM SACCO leaders will be facilitated with 500,000= to monitor the implementation of PDM activities.

Accounting Officers, RDCs, OWC Officers, DISOs, DPCs and elected leaders at all levels should work together to ensure that communities are sensitized that PRF loans and associated processed are free of charge.

Way forward

-     Political leaders in particular, leaders of Lower Local Government to come up with bye-laws that prevent citizens from boozing during working hours.

District and Sub-county technical staff should actively follow up utilization of PRF.

Religious leaders are also requested to sensitize their followers to ensure proper utilization of PRF.

The District and Lower Local Governments should allocate funds under Local Revenue for following up the implementation of PDM activities.