Bushenyi youth leaders
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Western Uganda districts of Ntungamo and Rukungiri districts have emerged as top performers in the ongoing Parish Development Model (PDM) programme, as per a new report from the Ministry of Finance dated July 17 2025.
Meanwhile, districts such as Karenga, Kotido, Mityana, Mukono, and Fort Portal city have been ranked among the least performers due to various challenges. These include lack of mobile phones, national IDs, and limited access to banks.
This report further reveals that over Shs 3.2 trillion has been disbursed to PDM SACCOs in 10,594 parishes across Uganda. Additionally nearly 2.9 million Ugandans have benefited through the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF). The report also states that nationally, about 87% of the funds have reached intended beneficiaries, with Shs 407.9 billion is yet to be distributed.
Top performers
Ntungamo Municipal Council leads the rankings as Shs 86 billion has been disbursed to 1,874 beneficiaries—even more than the amount it received. Rukungiri Municipal Council comes in second with Shs 7 billion going to 3,735 people which is a sign of efficient and timely delivery. Other strong performers include the following:
* Amuru: UGX 17.8 billion to 17,811 beneficiaries
* Oyam: UGX 22.5 billion to 22,667 people
* Kwania: Over 99% of funds disbursed
The local leaders in Rukungiri have attributed their success to teamwork and prompt action, saying they disburse funds as soon as they are received.
Poor Performers Face Access Ban
The report also revealed the worst performers. These included such districts as Karenga and Kotido, which reported minimal performance. Officials in these districts cited the lack of mobile phones and national IDs, which are requirements to access the PDM funds. Additionally, the absence of nearby banks also complicates access. It’s reported that the closest banks are 120km away in Kitgum and 140km in Kotido.
Mityana District also lagged due to delays in enrolling on the WENDI digital wallet system. This system was introduced to enable beneficiaries to receive funds without needing a smartphone or a bank account.
Mukono Municipal Council defended its position, stating that most of its funds had already been distributed, except for a recently received batch in June.
Government response
In order to improve digital operations, the government distributed over 23,000 tablets and power banks to parish chiefs and SACCO leaders. These gadgets are now used to manage loan applications as well as the efficient disbursements.
The Ministry of Finance plans to release another Shs 1 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year to all functional parishes. Most districts are already disbursing between 86% and 97% of their allocated funds.
In his just concluded countrywide PDM tour, President Yoweri Museveni strongly warned government officials against misusing PDM and Emyooga funds. The President emphasized that anyone caught embezzling this money should not be granted police bond. He pointed out that these programmes are essential for raising household incomes across the country.
About PDM
The PDM was launched in 2022. It’s aim is to help 39% of Ugandan households transition from subsistence farming to commercial production. The programme supports a wide variety of sectors from agriculture, savings groups, and enterprise development at the parish level.
Each SACCO receives funding to offer low-interest loans (at 6% per year) to community enterprise groups, with a three-year repayment window. A new tracking system monitors funds from the Ministry of Finance to the final beneficiary to minimize corruption and ensure transparency.
About the Author
