By Diana N Kintu
The Parish Development Model (PDM) has reached more than four million beneficiaries across the country, according to Finance Minister Henry Musasizi, who presented the FY 2026/27 National Budget at Kololo Independence Grounds.
Musasizi described the PDM as the Government’s most significant intervention aimed at eliminating subsistence livelihoods and expanding participation in the money economy.
“PDM is not merely a financing programme. It is a structural transformation programme. Its objective is to move households from subsistence to commercial production; from survival to enterprise; and from poverty to prosperity,” he said.
Over the past five years, the Government has transferred UGX 4.4 trillion to all 10,589 parishes as revolving capital. The next phase of implementation will focus on increasing productivity, strengthening value addition, and improving market access.
Plans are also underway to transform the programme into a self-sustaining financial ecosystem, ultimately evolving into a PDM Bank, supported by strong repayment performance and sound governance structures.
The Minister highlighted other wealth-creation initiatives featured in the budget. The Emyooga programme has received capitalisation of UGX 760 billion, leading to the establishment of 7,148 SACCOs with 2.48 million members and cumulative savings of UGX 95.3 billion.
In addition, the Agricultural Credit Facility has disbursed UGX 1.35 trillion to more than 14,000 beneficiaries, while the Uganda Development Bank has extended UGX 2.45 trillion in financing to over 600 businesses. Women and young people have also benefited, with UGX 133 billion in soft loans provided under the GROW Project and UGX 195 billion invested in youth livelihood programmes.
Musasizi confirmed that the Government has allocated an additional UGX 2.49 trillion to wealth-creation programmes in the FY 2026/27 budget.
“These interventions are reducing barriers to participation in economic activity while expanding opportunities across the country,” he said.
The Minister emphasised that wealth-creation programmes are central to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to transform the economy through investment in priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, minerals, and science and technology.
“Ugandans who were previously outside the money economy are now engaged in income-generating enterprises. The PDM is raising household incomes, improving food security, and creating local economic opportunities,” he said.
He noted that while agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, future prosperity will depend on value addition, agro-processing, and improved access to markets.
Musasizi concluded by thanking President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his vision and leadership in championing the Parish Development Model.
Source: Budget Speech FY2026/27, Ministry of Finance.
