Journalists Urged To Expose PDM Rot, Confront Thieves
Journalists from the Tooro sub region
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Journalists in Tooro should embrace the ideology of freeing Ugandans from poverty by advocating against the misuse of public funds.
While meeting scores of journalists from the sub region at the Fort Portal State Lodge recently, President Yoweri Museveni emphasized that the Parish Development Model (PDM) is meant to tackle the challenges of poverty and promote economic transformation in the country, but has been infiltrated by thieves.
“Thieves of PDM should be jailed and serve as labourers which will be beneficial to the government,” he said.
Referring to himself as one whose focus is on economic transformation that aims at increasing household incomes and improving the quality of life of Ugandans through poverty alleviation initiatives like the PDM, Museveni said that thieves have no place in Uganda’s current economic dispensation.
“I come as a preacher to spread the gospel and assess those that have committed to live by the gospel,” he said.
On conceptualization and implementation of PDM, the journalists highlighted the lack of a clear framework of the program.
“The design of PDM is very good but the challenge is that these beneficiaries weren’t sensitized at first on how to choose the best enterprises to invest their money,” one of the journalists said.
A cross section of journalists from the Tooro sub region
President Museveni responded with clarification, saying, “We had calculated the Shs1 million based on coffee, knowing that 250 seedlings per acre would cost Shs 180,000 and the balance could be used on other developments. But because of the need to involve everyone we embarked on 4 sectors with 7 activities on 4 acres or less.”
The President said that his advice was based on the availability of the market and good returns on the selected enterprises, which would achieve PDM goals of reducing poverty across the country.
Additionally, the President urged journalists to champion national development and remain patriotic in their reporting, aligning with the mindset change and Parish-based management information on socio-economic transformation and democracy.
He also proposed and tasked the journalists to nominate one journalist per district who will be attached to the Presidential Press Unit to monitor the PDM initiative.
He also contributed Shs100 million to the journalists SACCO and a van for transportation.
On the issue of Kyaka II Refugee Settlement located in Kyegegwa, he promised to resolve the long-standing dispute by providing land titles to occupants.
“They stole that land from the government, but we have decided to let them stay because it is not environmentally sensitive. I will write about it.”
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, who attended the meeting advised the journalists to remain ethical at all times.
