Kasese receives over 800 million to ‘kickstart’ parish development model

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kasese district local government has received Shillings 895,546,427, to kick start the operation of the Parish Development Model-PDM program.

The money is part of the shillings 17.7 Billion received from the ministry of finance for the second quarter release of the financial year 2021/22.

Key among the activities is the recruitment of Parish Chiefs, establishment and training of Parish Development Committees, set up of the Community Information System (CIS), and mobilization of the masses at lower government level.

Amis Asuman Masereka, the district Chief Administrative Officer says they have already shortlisted 839 candidates for parish chief and town agent positions and soon these gaps will be filled and the programs rolled out.

He adds that the team of the Ministry of Public Service Commission would be in the district by end of this month to conduct the interviews for successful candidates.

Masereka told Uganda Radio Network -URN that the district targets to use the model as a new vehicle to increase commercial production at the parish level and to increase household incomes. He also added that the district has received a development grant to a tune of 1.3 Billion.

The Kasese district chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi, said that the Parish Development Model comes at a time when the district has just drafted a five year district development plan to foster development.

“With more resources planned to be put at the parish level, we definitely expect our rates of growth and development to be higher, “said Muhindi. The district secretary for production and Nyakatonzi sub county councilor, Ham Natuhwera says the program will ensure more jobs are created which will then mean increased local demand for goods and services once people have money. However, he requested that the people are fully educated about the program before it is rolled out.

The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a strategy for organizing and delivering public and private sector interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic planning unit.

Government plans to spend over 490 Billion Shillings under the new model that is meant to eradicate poverty among 68 percent of households across the country.

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