“Invest, Don’t Consume!” — Nekesa Cautions PDM Beneficiaries Over Luxurious Expenditures

By Swift Reporter 

National Resistance Movement (NRM) Treasurer, Ambassador Hon. Barbara Nekesa has urged beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to use the funds strictly for productive investments and stop diverting the money to purchase smartphones and other non-essential items.

Nekesa made the call over the weekend during a visit to Wasawa Farm in Mayombe village, Busia District. She emphasised that the poverty eradication funds are meant to lift households out of poverty through agriculture, small enterprises, and other income-generating activities, not to finance consumer gadgets.

“PDM money is not for buying smartphones. It is meant to create wealth and fight poverty at the household level,” Nekesa said. She warned that misusing the funds risks undermining the entire programme and denying genuine beneficiaries the chance to improve their livelihoods.

The NRM Treasurer thanked President Yoweri Museveni for initiating the Parish Development Model, describing it as a deliberate strategy to tackle poverty from the grassroots by empowering ordinary Ugandans with capital at the parish level. She noted that the success of the programme depends entirely on how beneficiaries utilise the resources.

Nekesa observed that some recipients have been diverting the funds to buy unnecessary items, a practice she said is causing the initiative to fail in certain areas. She called on local leaders, parish chiefs, and community monitors to intensify supervision and ensure the money is channelled into productive ventures such as farming, livestock, poultry, and small businesses

During the visit to Wasawa Farm, Nekesa interacted with farmers and inspected ongoing agricultural activities supported under the PDM framework. She encouraged beneficiaries to prioritise investments that generate returns and create lasting economic impact rather than spending on temporary consumer goods.

Officials accompanying the treasurer reiterated that the government continues to roll out the Parish Development Model as a flagship poverty reduction programme. They stressed that strict adherence to guidelines and proper utilisation of funds remain critical if the initiative is to achieve its goal of transforming households across the country.

Nekesa’s remarks come amid ongoing efforts by the government to strengthen accountability mechanisms within the PDM and ensure that the funds reach the intended purpose of wealth creation at the lowest levels of society.