LUCKY PATRICK
The State Minister for Local Government, Hon. Victoria Businge Rusoke , has cleared the air the on the intention of Parish development model [PDM].
The program she says, is designed to benefit the active poor and not for the rich ones, as many people have been articulating it.
According to Hon. Businge, the government of Uganda, has reduced the proportion of homesteads working for only the stomach from 68 percent (2016) to 39 percent currently with the initiation of Operation Wealth Creation-OWC
”The Parish development model is targeted to move the 39 percent of the population who are still in subsistence farming to money economy.” remarked Hon. Rusoke
As she addressed people at the launch yesterday held at the Kabarole Youth Centre in Nyabukara Fort Portal City, Hon. Businge, disclosed that only active poor people will be considered to benefit from the program.
She added that money will be refundable with an interest of 6 percent per annum.
Hon. Peace Regis Mutuzo, the State Minister for Gender and Culture doubling as the Woman MP Bunyangabu District, said that a number of people have previously accessed loans from various banks but remained poor regardless.
She attributes the poverty, to poor spending habits by people. Mutuuzo, encourages people to shift to commercial farming instead of subsistence.
Richard Rwabuhinga, the LCV Chairman Kabarole district asked Ugandans to own the program, advising the beneficiaries to borrow the money and pay back.
Hon. Harriet Ntabazi the State Minister for Trade, warned the parish chiefs against soliciting bribes from the community in order to benefit from the program.
