Museveni Warns Rwenzori Leaders Against Repeating Mistakes as He Champions PDM

President Museveni has called on leaders and citizens of the Rwenzori sub-region to take full responsibility for ensuring the success of the Parish Development Model (PDM), warning them against the complacency that undermined earlier government poverty eradication efforts such as Entandikwa, NAADs, and Operation Wealth Creation.

During his visit to Ntoroko District on Monday, the President said the effectiveness of the PDM rests heavily on the involvement and vigilance of local leaders, whom he accused of previously neglecting similar programmes meant to transform household incomes.

"Leaders must not ignore interventions meant to lift our people out of poverty. It is their duty to ensure these programs work," he said.

Museveni reiterated that the National Resistance Movement has always pursued a clear mission to achieve household-level prosperity, and urged all Ugandans to internalise and act on that vision.

“Our mission is clear. What we need is for everyone—leaders and citizens alike—to adopt and implement it in their daily lives,” he added.

At the event, the President interacted with PDM beneficiaries engaged in cocoa growing and goat rearing. Many expressed satisfaction with the initiative but appealed for government support to establish value addition facilities, which they said would enhance the profitability of their agricultural efforts.

“We are producing, but without value addition, we lose out on potential income. We need processing facilities,” one farmer said.

Local leaders also expressed appreciation for the PDM initiative, but highlighted the challenge of prolonged drought in the district, which has threatened livestock production.

They asked Museveni to consider constructing a cocoa processing plant in the region to support agro-industrialisation.

“We are grateful for the PDM initiative, Your Excellency. However, the drought in our region remains a big challenge, and we request for a cocoa processing factory to support our farmers,” said one leader.

In a show of support, the President donated Shs 20 million to Pelucy Biira Muyinga to revive her poultry farm, which she started under PDM but later struggled to sustain.

Ten other PDM beneficiaries who attended the event each received Shs 1 million.

Museveni later toured a model goat farm in Kisungu II Cell, West Ward, Kibuuku Town Council, owned by Stephen Kisembo.

A beneficiary of the PDM fund, Kisembo started his enterprise with a Shs 1 million loan and has since expanded his herd, showcasing the model’s potential when funds are well-utilised.

The President's visit was the latest in a series of regional engagements aimed at rallying grassroots support for the PDM, a flagship strategy designed to reorganise Uganda’s economy from the bottom-up by empowering citizens through parish-based funding.

By urging the Rwenzori region to avoid the pitfalls that marred earlier initiatives, Museveni signalled that the government intends to keep a close eye on the implementation of PDM and will hold local leaders accountable for its success or failure.