Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM) has reached 3.57 million beneficiaries after the government capitalised its revolving fund with 4.317 trillion shillings ($1.2 billion) to finance household enterprises and shift rural communities from subsistence production towards the cash economy.
The funds have been channelled through 10,589 PDM Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), with each SACCO receiving at least 400 million shillings over the four-year period, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Eligible beneficiaries can borrow up to 1 million shillings at an annual interest rate of 6%, with repayment spread over three years and a two-year grace period.
The programme’s implementation and emerging priorities were reviewed at an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Minister of State for Microfinance Shartsi K. Musherure at the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together ministers and technical officials overseeing the seven PDM pillars to assess implementation and identify reforms aimed at improving accountability, sustainability and the programme’s impact on household incomes.
Women account for majority of beneficiaries
Women make up 53.88% of PDM beneficiaries, with 1,924,188 women compared with 1,646,920 men, according to the ministry’s Financial Inclusion Pillar report.
Adults aged 31 to 59 account for the largest share of beneficiaries at 1,946,086, or 54.50%. Youth aged 18 to 30 account for 1,086,998 beneficiaries, or 30.44%, while people aged above 60 represent 538,024, or 15.07%.
The Financial Inclusion Pillar has also recorded 222,389 enterprise groups, of which 183,430 have been profiled on the PDM Information System.
As of June 2026, beneficiaries had invested 425.27 billion shillings in poultry, 461.12 billion shillings in piggery and 453.52 billion shillings in coffee, the report said.
Digital systems track disbursements
The government is using digital systems to improve the tracking and accountability of PDM funds.
The Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) transfers funds to PDM SACCO accounts, while the PDM Information System is used to register eligible beneficiaries.
Wendi, managed by Pearl Bank, disburses loans directly to beneficiaries’ mobile phones, while Zaidi provides real-time tracking and verification.
The government has recruited 14,133 Wendi agents and distributed 27,100 tablets for beneficiary registration and programme monitoring.
Minister of State for National Guidance Alion Yorke Odria called for stronger public sensitisation through government agencies and regional radio stations, particularly on loan repayment, programme updates and policy changes.
Government targets agricultural value chains
Agriculture remains a major focus of PDM financing, with the government also seeking to address access to quality inputs.
Minister of State for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama said the government had registered 645 premises handling agricultural chemicals and seeds as part of efforts to reduce the circulation of counterfeit inputs.
The government has also procured and distributed 50.6 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and established solar-powered cold-chain facilities in 53 districts, he said.
Local Government Minister Barugahara Balaam called for tighter controls against extortion, illegal charges, favouritism, political interference, fraud and diversion of PDM funds.
He said programme performance should be measured not only by the amount of money disbursed but by increases in production, savings, value addition, market access, enterprise growth and household incomes.
Minister of State for Gender and Culture Mary Kamuli Kuteesa said beneficiaries needed more preparation before receiving funds, alongside stronger training and follow-up after disbursement.
PDM National Coordinator Dennis Galabuzi said the programme was moving towards a coordinated, whole-of-government model organised around value chains, covering inputs, production, storage, electricity, processing, value addition and access to markets.
The PDM is one of Uganda’s major government programmes aimed at increasing household participation in the formal economy by directing public financing and support services to the parish level.
