The Government of Uganda has so far disbursed 3.63 trillion shillings under the Parish Development Model (PDM), as part of efforts to drive financial inclusion and transition millions of citizens from subsistence to market-oriented livelihoods.

The PDM, the government’s flagship poverty alleviation programme, targets households still engaged in subsistence production by channeling funds through parish-level Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs).

However, Members of Parliament have raised fresh concerns regarding transparency, equity, and the long-term sustainability of the initiative.

State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, revealed that more than 3.6 million previously unbanked Ugandans have so far benefited from the programme.

Each verified parish SACCO has received UGX 50 million under the revolving fund arrangement.

He added that by the end of the current financial year, total investment in the programme is expected to exceed 4 trillion shillings.

Despite these figures, legislators questioned whether the substantial disbursements are translating into meaningful and sustainable economic transformation at the grassroots level.

Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, a Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee and Shadow Minister of Finance, warned that weak tracking and accountability systems could undermine the programme’s effectiveness.

He drew comparisons with previous government initiatives that failed due to poor oversight and mismanagement.

Lawmakers are now calling for stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the funds achieve their intended impact of lifting households out of poverty.

By Francis Lubega