The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) grassroots economic empowerment programme, spearheaded by Senior Presidential Advisor Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye rolled out across various regions and urban communities is impacting lives.
Amonitoring and evaluation of beneficiaries of Parish Development Model exercise conducted in Bushenyi District by ONC District Coordinator Ms Nancy Ainemukama shows that beneficiaries have registered remarkable growth since receiving government support.
One such beneficiary is Byamukama Benson of Ruhandagazi Ward II in Central Division, who received one million under PDM in 2022 then invested purchasing sewing machine..
Today, he owns three machines and has increased his monthly income from approximately Shs400,000 to Shs1.5 million.
He has also created employment opportunities for other residents, trained school dropouts in tailoring skills, purchased land, expanded his livestock enterprise, and fully repaid the Shs one million to his Parish SACCO.
Another beneficiary, Ms Tuhamye Rosette, a widow from Bwegyeme B Village in Kakanju Sub-county, used her one million received in 2023 to expand her charcoal business.
Rosette has reported significant progress in her livelihood and the business has enabled her to pay school fees for her children and construct seven rental units, each generates approximately Shs80,000 per month. She also earns an average of Shs200,000 per day from her charcoal trade.
Ms Kobusigye Grace of Kyamutiganzi A Village in Katikamwe Parish, Kyabugimbi Town Council, invested her PDM funds in coffee trading after receiving the money in 2023. She said the capital transformed her life by enabling her to expand her coffee business without relying on bank loans that required collateral she did not possess.
Grace has since established a small food vending business, acquired goats, and improved her household income. However, she noted that changing weather patterns and seasonal fluctuations continue to affect coffee production and trade.
Mr Byamukama Elly of Kyamutiganzi B Village also shared his success story. After receiving Shs1 million in 2024 intended for banana production, he invested the funds in piggery. He purchased 12 pigs and constructed a simple shelter for the animals.
Since then, the pigs have reproduced three times, with piglets being sold at approximately Shs150,000 each after one month. The proceeds have enabled him to start a poultry project with 50 layer chickens, pay school fees for his children, purchase a cow and five goats, and meet household expenses.
Ainembabazi Privah, a school dropout from Mutoni Village in Ryamabengwa, Central Division. Having acquired tailoring skills from Benson, she used her PDM funds to purchase a sewing machine and other equipment to establish her own tailoring business.
Privah now earns approximately Shs50,000 daily from the enterprise. She has acquired two pigs, three goats, pays her rent independently, and saves Shs20,000 every Friday with Jubilee SACCO.
Meanwhile, Mr Nathan Tamwesigire, a widower from Kyamutiganzi A Village in Katikamwe Parish, invested his Shs1 million PDM funds in coffee trading after receiving them in 2023.
Before joining the programme, Tamwesigire earned a living through local brewing while gradually investing profits into coffee trading. He earned about Shs200,000 weekly and approximately one million monthly. Since receiving the PDM funds, he has expanded his business, purchased land, paid school fees for his children, and started constructing a permanent home.
The beneficiaries have commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM government for introducing a financing model that is accessible to ordinary Ugandans.
They noted that unlike commercial bank loans, which often require collateral and carry high risks, PDM funds have enabled them to invest in productive enterprises and improve their standards of living.
Ainemukama urged beneficiaries to continue reinvesting profits, embrace a saving culture, and ensure timely repayment of funds to enable more households to benefit from the programme.
