Parliament Finance Committee Calls for PDM Funding Overhaul to Address Parish Disparities

Uganda’s Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development has demanded an immediate reassessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) funding approach. Launched in 2022 to shift subsistence households into the money economy via parish-based funds, the program currently distributes Shs100 million equally to every parish.

Committee chairperson Hon. Amos Kankunda highlighted during a plenary session on April 16, 2026, chaired by Speaker Anita Annet Among, that this one-size-fits-all method overlooks key differences in parish population, land area, and poverty rates. “Uniform funding leads to unequal support per person or per poor household,” he noted, warning it could weaken outcomes in vulnerable regions despite easing administration.

Leveraging data from the 2024 National Housing and Population Census, the committee pushes for a needs-based formula prioritizing poverty and vulnerability. They advise the Ministry of Finance to propose revisions ahead of the 2027/28 budget, backed by impact simulations, while boosting services like extension support in needy areas.

The report also spotlighted surging domestic debt refinancing, expected to jump from Shs10 trillion to Shs14 trillion in 2026/27, signaling sustainability risks as borrowing covers repayments and squeezes funds for essentials. Recommendations include longer debt terms, less short-term reliance, and stronger revenue collection.

Delays in donor-funded initiatives like GROW and INVITE were criticized for wasting money on commitment fees, with calls for better preparation before loans. Non-compliance with gender and equity rules drew ire, prompting threats to block budgets for offenders.

Speaker Among forwarded the report to the Budget Committee for review.

Source: Howwe Entertainment