President Yoweri Museveni
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Officials in charge of the Parish Development Model (PDM) have been barred from denying youth access to PDM funds over claims that they lack land.
The directive was made by President Yoweri Museveni, who insisted that the viability of youth projects, not land ownership, should be the basis for approval.
“For the youths, I have heard reports that elders are not allowing them to access PDM at the parish because they don’t have land,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing thousands of supporters at Bujaga Playground in Rwampara District during a campaign rally ahead of 2026 general elections.
Museveni expressed strong dissatisfaction with reports that youth in several parishes have been turned away from accessing the PDM revolving fund because they do not own land—an issue he described as “misguided and unacceptable.”
“Stop that. Get their projects and review them and leave them to invest in whatever they want. They can rent land to invest in anything they wish.”
He emphasized that PDM was designed to give all Ugandans, especially the vulnerable ones still in the subsistence economy, a fair chance to enter income-generating activities. Land ownership, he said, is not a prerequisite for innovation or entrepreneurship.
He cited examples of youth who have used the funds creatively, including Kenneth Ayesigwa, a young man from Nyamirama in Kanungu District who used his PDM allocation of Shs1 million to hire space for a small restaurant, later expanding into piggery—demonstrating innovation through minimal resources.
“These excuses of saying someone has no land and therefore should not get money—I don’t want to hear this,” the President noted, adding: “Look at the viability of their project before denying them money.”
Under the PDM framework, 30% of the parish revolving fund is ring-fenced for youth aged 18–30 to support their participation in income-generating ventures.
President Museveni reminded Rwampara residents that the NRM government has always combined guidance with practical support.
“NRM doesn’t only advise and show you what to do, but also supports you to start,” he said. “Use this PDM money well and you will be prosperous.”
He revealed that the government plans to supplement PDM funds with free coffee seedlings for households ready to embrace commercial agriculture.
“I have already informed the relevant departments to get coffee seedlings and give them for free to those who need them,” he added.
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