President Museveni Hails PDM as a Pathway Out of Poverty During Visit to Buvuma Farmer
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed the transformative power of the Parish Development Model (PDM), calling it a “golden opportunity” for Ugandan households to lift themselves out of poverty.
Speaking on June 19, 2025, during his PDM assessment tour of the Greater Mukono region, the President visited the home of Muhereza Wako, a PDM beneficiary in Buyego Cell, Buvuma Town Council, Buvuma Sub-county. Wako, who once struggled to feed his family, has now established a successful dairy and cassava milling business on a single acre of land.
“Do not waste this opportunity,” the president urged locals. “Wako was once poor, but now he’s a rich man with three cows and a milling machine—all because he and his family embraced the PDM program. This initiative is your chance to eliminate poverty from your households.”
Wako’s journey to success began on June 21, 2023, when he received UGX 1 million in PDM funds. After bank charges, he was left with UGX 980,000. He combined this with his savings to buy a cow and a bull. The cow later gave birth in May 2024. Around the same time, he sold the bull for UGX 1 million and used the money as a deposit for a cassava milling machine, priced at UGX 2.5 million.
The seller allowed him to pay the remaining UGX 1.5 million in installments, which Wako managed to clear using the income generated by the machine.
Today, Wako earns approximately UGX 15,000 daily from the milling machine, deducting UGX 5,000 for fuel, leaving him with a net daily income of UGX 10,000—or UGX 300,000 per month. Additionally, his dairy cow produces three liters of milk daily. He sells two liters at UGX 1,000 each, earning UGX 60,000 per month, while the third liter and cow dung are used on his farm for manure.
Pleased with his progress, President Museveni praised Wako’s resourcefulness and used the visit to underscore the importance of peace and government support in fostering self-reliance.
“For years, the government has been sending resources to fight poverty. Unfortunately, some officials have mismanaged them. But with the PDM, we now send UGX 100 million annually to each parish. Over five years, that will total UGX 500 million per parish,” he said.
The President noted that early PDM beneficiaries who received UGX 1 million are expected to repay it with an interest of UGX 120,000, enabling others in their communities to benefit in turn.
In recognition of Wako’s efforts, President Museveni supported him with an additional UGX 12 million—UGX 10 million to purchase more land and UGX 2 million to invest in livestock like goats and pigs.
Wako, along with his wife, Esseza Mirembe, and their eight children, lives on just half an acre. He credited the PDM for enabling him to turn his life around.
“I used to be so poor I couldn’t afford food for my family,” he said. “Today, I’m proud to be called a rich man. The PDM gave me a chance to create wealth and transform my household.”
The President also used the occasion to warn against overfishing in Lake Victoria, which he said is endangering livelihoods and the lake’s sustainability.
“Unregulated fishing must stop. That’s why we introduced licenses. Only disciplined and capable individuals should fish. The rest, like Wako, should consider alternative livelihoods,” he advised.
Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, State Minister for Agriculture, encouraged farmers to adopt improved pasture varieties such as Chloris gayana and Brachiaria to enhance livestock productivity and milk yield.
Also present at the event were Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President and MP for Buikwe District, local leaders, and other PDM beneficiaries from Buvuma.
