By Infora Media
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a strong warning to parish chiefs and National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders accused of frustrating or misusing Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, vowing arrests, dismissals from office, and full recovery of misappropriated resources.
The President made the remarks on Monday while addressing the nation during Uganda’s 40th Liberation Day celebrations at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala. He said government has intensified oversight of the PDM to ensure the programme achieves its core objective of lifting households out of subsistence poverty.
Museveni revealed that several parish officials have already been arrested for allegedly sabotaging the programme for personal gain, stressing that no one will be protected if found culpable. He directed parish chiefs to fully cooperate with the initiative and urged citizens to actively participate by joining their respective parish SACCOs.
“Go and be members of the parish SACCO. Any parish chief who does not cooperate with this programme should be arrested. Some parish chiefs have already been arrested because of selfishness,” Museveni said.
The President also warned NRM leaders implicated in diverting PDM funds that they will be removed from leadership positions and compelled to refund the money, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Museveni noted that about 70 percent of Ugandans are now part of the money economy, attributing the progress to sustained NRM policies and programmes. He pledged increased PDM allocations, inclusive economic growth, and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure public funds directly benefit intended communities.
The Parish Development Model is a flagship government programme aimed at transforming Uganda’s economy by empowering households at the parish level through affordable financing and enterprise development.