The opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has urged the government to pardon beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) who have suffered losses due to prolonged dry spells and disruptions caused by the trade order in Kampala.
The party’s Acting Chairman, Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga, said the prevailing economic challenges had disrupted agricultural and business activities, leaving some beneficiaries struggling to repay funds received under the government programme.
Addressing journalists at the party offices along Katonga Road in Kampala, Bayiga explained that several PDM beneficiaries had invested the money in farming, but prolonged drought had affected crop production, leaving them with little or no harvest to sell and recover their investments.
He argued that forcing such beneficiaries to repay the funds under the current circumstances could worsen their financial difficulties, calling on the government to consider pardoning those who have been genuinely affected by the economic hardships.
Bayiga also cited the ongoing trade order in Kampala as another factor affecting PDM beneficiaries, particularly traders who have reportedly lost access to their usual places of work and are struggling to generate income to meet their repayment obligations.
He said the government should take these challenges into account and consider measures to support affected beneficiaries rather than holding them solely responsible for circumstances beyond their control.
Meanwhile, Bayiga raised concerns over rising fuel prices, which he said had reached Shs7,000 per litre, alongside the depreciation of the Ugandan shilling against the US dollar, with the exchange rate exceeding Shs4,000 per dollar.
He warned that the rising cost of fuel and the weakening currency were placing additional pressure on businesses and households, calling on the government to introduce measures to ease the economic burden.
Among the proposed interventions, Bayiga urged the government to consider reducing taxes on fuel imports to help lower pump prices and ease the cost of doing business.
He maintained that addressing these economic challenges would help cushion Ugandans against rising living costs and support the recovery of businesses and agricultural enterprises.
By Charles Katabalwa
12th Oct 2026
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