BUDIOPE, BUYENDE — Minister for the Presidency and Budiope West Member of Parliament, Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda, has urged Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries in her constituency to use the funds productively and embrace the Four-Acre Model as a strategy for increasing household incomes and fighting poverty.
Babalanda made the remarks yesterday while hosting PDM beneficiaries selected from all 277 villages in Budiope West Constituency, Buyende District.
The meeting brought together the beneficiary with the best PDM success story from each village, representing 38 parishes and eight sub-counties in the constituency.
The beneficiaries included farmers, traders, youth, men and women who had invested the Shs1 million received through the PDM wealth-creation revolving fund in various income-generating activities.
Babalanda said the purpose of the engagement was to listen to the beneficiaries, celebrate their success stories and identify challenges affecting the implementation of the programme.
She said the lessons from successful beneficiaries could help other households make better use of PDM funds and contribute to the programme’s objective of moving households from subsistence production into the money economy.
Babalanda conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Hajji Yunus Kakande and staff of the Office of the President.
She commended the beneficiaries for their discipline, innovation and commitment to putting the funds into productive ventures.
“I urge you to go back and share the knowledge and values that have made you stand out with your village mates, so that everyone who receives PDM funds registers success,” Babalanda said.
She described PDM as a flagship government programme designed to promote wealth creation at parish level and reach households across the country.
The minister also urged beneficiaries to repay the funds on time so that the revolving fund can support more households in subsequent cycles.
She warned beneficiaries against diverting PDM money to activities that do not generate income.
“Do not use PDM money to marry second wives or for drinking. That money is seed capital to fight poverty in your home,” Babalanda cautioned, drawing laughter and applause from the gathering.
During the meeting, beneficiaries shared testimonies of how the Shs1 million had helped them establish and expand different enterprises.
Their projects included poultry, piggery, goat rearing, dairy farming, retail shops and crop production.
Some beneficiaries said the ventures had enabled them to increase household incomes, pay school fees and meet other basic needs.
Babalanda assured the beneficiaries that she would continue monitoring the implementation of PDM in Budiope West.
She said she intends to visit beneficiaries in their homes to assess how the funds are being utilised and identify challenges affecting their enterprises.
She also pledged to work with district leaders to promote transparency and accountability and ensure that PDM funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
In addition to PDM, Babalanda encouraged households to adopt the Four-Acre Model, a strategy championed by President Museveni that promotes intensive and profitable use of small pieces of land.
Under the model, she explained, the first acre can be dedicated to long-term cash crops such as coffee and cocoa, while the second acre can be used for fruit production, including oranges and mangoes.
The third acre can be used for food crops such as maize, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes and vegetables, while the fourth acre can be dedicated to pasture to support zero-grazing dairy farming.
She also encouraged families to establish backyard and home-based enterprises, including vegetable gardens and poultry projects for egg production.
Babalanda said combining PDM support with productive agricultural practices could help households increase their incomes and gradually move out of poverty.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting household income-generating activities as part of its broader agenda of transforming Ugandan households and promoting economic empowerment at the grassroots.
