KABALE – The Parish Development Model (PDM) Secretariat has attributed the low recovery of disbursed funds to politicians who allegedly misled beneficiaries into believing that the money was a token of appreciation for their votes in the 2021 elections.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was stated during the Budget Conference for the Kigezi Sub-Region, organized in Kabale District by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
Reports indicate that despite the government disbursing over UGX 4.31 trillion in capital funds, only UGX 2.75 trillion had reached beneficiaries in the form of soft loans. As of mid-2026, only approximately UGX 3.9 billion had been recovered nationally.
The Research and Policy Officer at the PDM Secretariat, Mr. Robert Sendegeya, noted that the program initially experienced what he termed a “stampede,” where politicians used it as a campaign tool following the 2021 elections and also during the 2026 re-elections.
Sendegeya urged politicians to return to the grassroots and sensitize the people they misled, clarifying that the PDM is a revolving fund, and beneficiaries are expected to repay the loans they received. “Politicians, please help us. You are the ones who created this problem; please help us solve it,” he said.
CUE IN: SENDEGEYA ON PDM
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Microfinance, Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, stated that the government estimated that by September 2026, PDM beneficiaries would have repaid at least Shs. 600 billion, but only Shs. 3.9 billion had been recovered.
She also blamed the low recovery rate on the mindset that the program was solely an election incentive. “Now that the elections are over, our people need to be reminded of their obligation to pay,” Ms. Kutesa emphasized.
She also called on the public to demand repayment of the PDM funds, emphasizing that it is a revolving fund meant to benefit more people. “To all Ugandans, this is your money. Please come out and demand it so that it can benefit others,” she added.
CUE IN: KUTESA ON PDM
Meanwhile, the Kisoro District Commercial Officer, Mr. Aaron Nfitumukiza, partly attributed the problem to the inefficiency of the Wendi Mobile Money Service, especially in rural areas.
He explained that some people have tried to repay, but Wendi agents had told them they lack the electronic balance, commonly known as float, to carry out transactions.
CUE IN: NFITUMUKIZA ON WENDI. PDM
In response, Mr. Sendegeya from the PDM Secretariat acknowledged awareness of the issue and revealed that the government is exploring various solutions.
He explained that initially, the government used commercial banks for PDM money transactions but later switched to the Wendi mobile wallet platform to accelerate disbursements, cut out bureaucratic middlemen, and enhance financial inclusion for unbanked rural communities.
CUE IN: SENDEGEYA ON WENDI. PDM
The government has reported that by September 2026, UGX 4.317 trillion had been invested through PDM SACCOs, reaching 3,571,108 beneficiaries, over 53 percent of whom are women.
The first loans were disbursed in December 2022, and Parliament has announced that repayment was set to begin in March 2026. However, a 24-month grace period was granted to beneficiaries before enforcement begins.
The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Development is conducting regional budget consultative conferences to engage local leaders and stakeholders on national and regional budget strategies.
According to the ministry, the purpose of these discussions is to assess the outcomes, successes, and challenges of previous budgets, gather perspectives from regional leaders and communities, and shape upcoming fiscal policies.
The consultations also aim to align priorities and guide local governments on strategic frameworks such as the Agro-Industrialization, Tourism, and Mineral Development (ATMS) pathways.
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