BUSIA, Uganda — National Resistance Movement (NRM) Treasurer, Ambassador Hon. Barbara Nekesa, has issued a strong warning to beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM), urging them to stop diverting government poverty eradication funds to purchase smartphones and other non-essential items, and instead invest in activities that can generate sustainable income.
Speaking during a visit to Wasawa Farm in Mayombe Village, Busia District, Nekesa emphasized that the Parish Development Model was established to transform lives through wealth creation and economic empowerment, not to finance luxury spending or short-term consumption.
“PDM money is not for buying smartphones. It is meant to create wealth and fight poverty at the household level,” Nekesa said.
Her remarks come at a time when government officials are intensifying efforts to ensure accountability and proper utilization of PDM funds across the country. Nekesa warned that the growing tendency by some beneficiaries to misuse the money risks undermining one of the government’s most ambitious poverty reduction programmes.
She praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for initiating the Parish Development Model, describing it as a visionary intervention designed to take financial empowerment directly to ordinary Ugandans at the grassroots level. According to Nekesa, the success or failure of the programme largely depends on the discipline and commitment of beneficiaries.
“The government has provided this capital to help families engage in farming, livestock rearing, poultry keeping, and small businesses that can improve household incomes. When beneficiaries spend the money on items that do not generate returns, they defeat the purpose of the programme,” she noted.
During her tour of Wasawa Farm, Nekesa interacted with farmers and inspected agricultural projects being supported under the PDM framework. She encouraged beneficiaries to focus on investments that create long-term economic value, stressing that wealth creation requires patience, planning, and responsible use of available resources.
She further called upon local leaders, parish chiefs, and community monitors to strengthen oversight and ensure that PDM funds are directed into productive ventures. Effective monitoring, she said, will help safeguard the programme from abuse and guarantee that the intended beneficiaries reap meaningful benefits.
Officials accompanying the NRM Treasurer reiterated that the Parish Development Model remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s poverty eradication strategy. They emphasized that adherence to programme guidelines and proper accountability will determine whether the initiative succeeds in transforming households across the country.