The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a poverty alleviation project that has been transforming lives and empowering communities in Uganda ever since it was launched by the government in 2022.
As part of this wealth creation tour in Greater Luwero this week, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to expanding financial inclusion by establishing parish banks in all 10,717 parishes across the country. He said this is a bold step towards sustainable grassroots empowerment.
Several farmers shared inspiring testimonies of how the PDM is transforming lives and helping communities break the cycle of poverty.
Among the model farmers President Museveni visited is Mariam Baiga, a successful agripreneur who operates a mixed farm of crops, cattle, goats and poultry.
Museveni urged the people in Greater Luwero, especially the youth and women, to learn a thing or two from Baiga by using the PDM funds to transform their lives.
“I visited Mariam Baiga, a dedicated model farmer in Bamunanika. I was happy with her progress in managing a diverse farm with cattle, poultry, coffee, and bananas. The government will continue to support her efforts to inspire other farmers and help lift them out of poverty and into the money economy. I will return to check on the farm’s progress,” Museveni said.
Highlighting another successful model farmer in the sub-region, Nalubowa Aidah, the President said, “We have implemented several interventions for poverty eradication, changing our programs each time. This time, we decided to put the funds (PDM) directly into the hands of the people. Therefore, I was happy to be back in Nakaseke to witness for myself how this program is progressing. Nalubowa Aidah, like others, is a testament to the fact that PDM has helped as intended.”
Empowering Farmers and Communities
Museveni said that the PDM has been instrumental in empowering farmers and communities, providing them with the necessary resources and support to break the cycle of poverty. Model farmers like Baiga and Nalubowa are testaments to the success of the program, showcasing the impact of PDM on their lives and livelihoods.
Aligning with Stanbic Bank’s WYF Agenda
It is important to note that the PDM aligns with Stanbic Bank’s Women, Youth, and Farmers (WYF) agenda, which aims to empower these demographics of Ugandans through financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
By providing access to affordable financial services and support, capacity building through training and connecting farmers to easy markets where they can sell their produce, the PDM and Stanbic Bank’s WYF agenda can work together to drive economic growth and development in Uganda.
Key Economic Driver
The PDM, just like the Stanbic WYF, is a key economic driver for Uganda’s growth, providing a sustainable and grassroots approach to poverty eradication. By empowering communities and providing access to financial services, the PDM can help to:
Increase economic activity
By providing access to financial services and support, the PDM can help to increase economic activity at the grassroots level.
Improve livelihoods
The PDM is helping to improve livelihoods by providing communities with the necessary resources and support to break the cycle of poverty.
Promote financial inclusion
The establishment of parish banks as pledged by the President will promote financial inclusion, providing communities with access to financial services and support.
The Parish Development Model is, therefore, a key economic driver for Uganda’s growth, providing a sustainable and grassroots approach to poverty eradication.
By empowering communities and providing access to financial services, the PDM can help to drive economic growth and development in Uganda. The alignment with Stanbic Bank’s WYF agenda further underscores the potential for collaboration and impact in driving economic growth and development in Uganda.