Opinion By Arnold Freeman Musamali
BUSIA, Uganda. Investigative journalist Arnold Freeman Musamali has commended National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo for her hands-on approach to monitoring the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Busia District, describing her grassroots engagement as an example other political leaders should emulate.
Musamali praised Nekesa for taking the programme directly to the people, inspecting beneficiary projects and reinforcing accountability in line with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s vision of transforming households from subsistence living into the money economy.
He urged political leaders, particularly those within the NRM, to adopt a similar approach by regularly visiting communities, engaging beneficiaries and assessing the impact of government programmes instead of relying solely on reports from officials.
During her monitoring and orientation tour across Samia Bugwe and surrounding areas, Nekesa visited PDM-supported enterprises, interacted with farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs, and emphasised the importance of investing the funds in productive activities capable of generating sustainable household incomes.
At Waswa Farm in Mayombe Village and other coffee-growing and fish-farming projects, the NRM National Treasurer cautioned beneficiaries against diverting the funds to non-productive expenditure, particularly consumer purchases that do little to improve their economic circumstances.
“PDM money is not for buying smartphones. It is meant to create wealth and fight poverty at the household level,” Nekesa told beneficiaries.
Her message underscored the programme’s central objective of equipping households with the resources to establish and expand income-generating enterprises, increase production and gradually improve their livelihoods.
Nekesa also issued a stern warning against extortion, cautioning officials against demanding money from beneficiaries in exchange for access to programme funds. She emphasised that those found engaging in such practices would face serious consequences.
She called on local leaders, parish chiefs and community monitors to strengthen supervision, promote transparency and report attempts to divert funds or exploit intended beneficiaries.
For Musamali, this combination of direct supervision, beneficiary education and firm accountability measures distinguishes effective leadership from political rhetoric.
He argued that government poverty eradication initiatives require leaders who are willing to engage directly with the communities they serve, identify implementation challenges and ensure that public resources achieve their intended purpose.
“Other politicians, most especially those from the NRM government, should pick a leaf from NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa by putting boots on the ground, as guided by President Museveni,” Musamali said.
The journalist maintained that sustained monitoring is critical to ensuring the PDM delivers lasting economic transformation, particularly at a time when concerns about alleged extortion, mismanagement and diversion of public resources continue to challenge the implementation of government programmes.
In Busia, the programme has reportedly reached more than 19,000 people organised in over 800 cooperative groups, with beneficiaries investing in coffee farming, poultry, piggery, fish farming and other income-generating ventures.
District figures indicate that Busia has received approximately Shs19 billion under the PDM, supporting efforts to expand household enterprises and increase participation in commercial production.
The reported progress provides an opportunity to assess how grassroots investment can translate into tangible improvements in household incomes, although sustained monitoring remains essential to establish the programme’s long-term impact.
Nekesa welcomed the progress recorded by beneficiaries and reaffirmed the importance of accountability, productive investment and continued follow-up to ensure that the programme achieves its intended objectives.
Launched by President Museveni in 2022, the Parish Development Model is designed to move households from subsistence production into the money economy by directing support through parish-level structures, including Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).
The initiative is a central pillar of the government’s broader economic mobilisation and poverty eradication agenda. Its effectiveness, however, depends on responsible use of funds, proper supervision and the ability of beneficiaries to turn financial support into sustainable enterprises.
Musamali’s commendation of Nekesa therefore centres on a broader leadership lesson: government programmes cannot achieve their full potential through policy declarations alone. They require consistent engagement with beneficiaries, close supervision of implementation and a willingness to confront practices that undermine their objectives.
As the PDM continues to shape grassroots wealth-creation efforts, the journalist argues that leaders must remain visible in the communities they serve, guide beneficiaries towards productive investment and protect public resources from misuse.
For him, putting “boots on the ground” is more than a political slogan. It is a practical test of leadership and accountability in the pursuit of household prosperity.