How UGX1 Million PDM Investment Transformed a One-Acre Farmer Into a Foundation for Sustainable Wealth Creation, Food Security in Luuka as ONC Continues to Monitor PDM Impact Across Communities

The Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC) has intensified monitoring and evaluation of beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) across the country to assess the impact of government wealth creation programmes and document success stories emerging from grassroots communities.

One such success story was recorded during a monitoring exercise conducted by Luuka District ONC Coordinator Mr Dhamuzungu Denis in Nawampiti Sub-county, where a beneficiary has embraced coffee farming as a pathway to improving household food security and long-term income generation.

Mr Kirya Sabasi, 48, a resident of Ikonia Village in Buyoola Parish, is among the beneficiaries who received Shs1 million under the Parish Development Model in 2024.

Before joining the programme, Mr Kirya primarily depended on sugarcane cultivation. However, he said the enterprise had become less attractive due to its long maturity period and the limited size of his land, which measures only one acre.

Faced with the challenge of maximizing productivity on a small piece of land, he opted to transition to coffee farming, a venture he believed would offer greater economic returns while allowing him to grow food crops alongside the main enterprise.

Using the funds received under PDM, Mr Kirya expanded his existing half-acre coffee plantation by clearing additional land using a tractor and purchasing more coffee seedlings.

Although the newly established coffee plantation is yet to begin generating income, the investment has already yielded important benefits for his household through intercropping.

Mr Kirya currently grows cassava, bananas, and other food crops alongside the coffee trees, enabling his family to access a steady food supply while waiting for the coffee to mature.

“The coffee has not yet started producing, but the intercropping system is already benefiting my family. We have enough food from the garden, and I am optimistic that the coffee will provide a reliable source of income in the future,” he said.

He noted that the transition from sugarcane to coffee has enabled him to make more productive use of his limited land and reduce dependence on a single enterprise.

According to Mr Kirya, the Parish Development Model provided him with the opportunity to invest in a venture that offers both short-term and long-term benefits, improving household food security while laying the foundation for future earnings.

He expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM government for introducing the programme, which he said has empowered ordinary Ugandans to invest in productive economic activities.

“I thank President Museveni for bringing PDM to the people. The programme has helped me diversify my farming activities and make better use of my land. My family now has improved food security, and I am hopeful that coffee will generate good income in the coming years,” he said.

Speaking after the monitoring visit, Mr Dhamuzungu said Mr Kirya’s story demonstrates how beneficiaries are using government support to make strategic agricultural investments that can improve livelihoods over time.

He noted that the Parish Development Model is not only supporting wealth creation but also encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that enhance food security and maximize productivity.

“Many beneficiaries are using the funds to invest in enterprises that suit their circumstances. In this case, coffee farming combined with intercropping is helping the beneficiary address immediate household needs while preparing for future income generation,” he said.

The success story highlights the growing impact of the Parish Development Model in supporting agricultural transformation, promoting enterprise diversification, and strengthening household resilience across rural communities.

As ONC monitoring exercises continue across the country, stories such as Mr Kirya’s underscore the programme’s role in empowering farmers to make productive investments, improve food security, and build sustainable pathways to economic prosperity.

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