KAPELEBYONG DISTRICT — The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) has reported continued success under the Parish Development Model (PDM), following a monitoring exercise that revealed a significant transformation in household income and livelihood among beneficiaries in Kapelebyong District.
The monitoring visit, conducted by the ONC District Coordinator for Kapelebyong, Mr. Francis Okiror, highlighted the progress of Mr. Eceru Simon, a resident of Akolikeje Cell, Oderai Ward in Kapelebyong Town Council, whose livestock enterprise has grown from seven goats to 50 within a short period.
Mr. Eceru received Shs1 million under the Parish Development Model in 2023 through his Parish SACCO. He invested the funds in goat rearing, marking a shift from informal economic activities to structured livestock farming.
According to Mr. Okiror, the beneficiary also participated in mindset change engagements under the programme, which contributed to his decision to focus on productive investment.
Before joining the programme, Mr. Eceru’s household was characterised by low productivity and limited income-generating activities. However, the investment in livestock has since yielded notable growth, with his herd expanding steadily to 50 goats.
Mr. Eceru said the transition has significantly improved his livelihood and helped him focus on long-term asset building.
“I decided to invest in goats and concentrate on building something sustainable. Today, I have livestock assets that are improving my life,” he said during the monitoring visit.
He encouraged fellow beneficiaries to consider goat rearing as a viable enterprise, noting its fast reproduction rate and relatively low maintenance costs compared to other livestock ventures.
Local leaders in Akolikeje Cell commended Mr. Eceru for also contributing to community development by allowing his breeding goat to serve animals belonging to neighbours, an intervention that has helped improve local livestock quality and productivity.
The LC1 Chairperson praised the transformation, noting that Mr. Eceru’s success has inspired other residents to embrace income-generating activities and improved farming practices.
Mr. Okiror described the case as a clear example of how the Parish Development Model is delivering both financial empowerment and behavioural change at household level.
“Mr. Eceru’s journey demonstrates the impact of combining financial support with mindset change. This is what wealth creation is about under PDM,” he said.
The Parish Development Model is a government flagship programme aimed at transitioning households from subsistence production into the money economy through structured investment at parish level.
The Kapelebyong success story adds to a growing number of PDM beneficiaries across the country who are registering improved incomes, expanding enterprises, and strengthening household resilience through productive investment.