KCCA ED ENGAGES PDM SACCO LEADERS TO ADDRESS IMPLEMENTATION GAPS

The Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, has held a high-level engagement with Parish Development Model (PDM) Sacco leaders from Rubaga and Kampala Central Divisions to address challenges hindering the effective implementation of the government’s flagship poverty alleviation initiative.

The meeting, held at City Hall, on May 20, brought together Sacco leaders, officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, representatives from Post Bank, Housing Finance Bank, and the Wendi mobile application.

The session was also attended by Golooba Lwanga, a key official under the Financial Inclusion Pillar of the PDM at the Ministry of Finance, and George William Kiyingi from Post Bank, who provided technical insights into the use of digital financial tools.

According to Buzeki, the engagement was organized to “identify and address the hindrances affecting the proper implementation of the PDM,” a program launched in 2022 to enhance household incomes by transitioning communities from subsistence to commercial economies.

“This program is meant to transform lives. I want to assure you that my technical team will support you to ensure people are onboarded onto the system and the funds are disbursed on time and as intended,” said Buzeki.

KCCA’s Deputy Director for Governance, Janet Luzinda, revealed that Kampala has disbursed UGX 19.257 billion of the UGX 19.5 billion received under the Parish Revolving Fund for FY2022/23 and FY2023/24, benefiting over 19,000 individuals across all 98 parishes.

Kampala Central Division has received UGX 4 billion, with UGX 3.9 billion already disbursed, while Rubaga Division received UGX 2.6 billion, which has been fully disbursed.

In the current financial year 2024/2025, UGX 50 million has been released to each parish, with additional funds expected in due course.

One of the other major talking points of the meeting was the integration of the PDM Information System (PDMIS) with the Wendi App, a digital financial platform used to manage transactions of community-based groups.

The app, supported by government banks such as Post Bank, Housing Finance, and Pride Microfinance, facilitates withdrawals, savings, bill payments, and mobile money transfers.

Kiyingi noted that Sacco leaders must complete the onboarding process on PDMIS before accessing the funds through Wendi.

“The system has been integrated to ensure transparency and ease of transactions. Government is also covering withdrawal charges so that each beneficiary receives the full UGX 1 million,” he explained.

Golooba stressed that digital tools like Wendi are crucial for ensuring financial inclusion and transparency in the fund disbursement process.

He emphasized the need for Sacco leaders to adhere to the bylaws governing PDM operations, particularly the financial signatory roles of the Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer.

“You can change individuals if necessary, but you must follow the proper procedures,” Golooba advised.

Saccco leaders from both divisions welcomed the initiative and appreciated the training provided by KCCA and partners, which has equipped them with skills to manage digital transactions and ensure that PDM benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

The Parish Development Model aims to move 39% of Ugandans who are still engaged in the subsistence economy into the money economy by leveraging parish-level structures to extend services and funding directly to communities.

As implementation continues, KCCA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sacco leaders, enhancing system efficiency, and ensuring the success of the program across the capital.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communiction and Media Relations Officer