By Mike Rwothomio | Zoomer Africa

The Government of Uganda has issued directives for the replacement of leadership in all Parish Development Model (PDM) Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) across Zombo District, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and effective implementation of the programme during its stabilization phase.

In a circular dated 17th March 2026 from the National PDM Coordinator, the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer in Zombo District has been instructed to facilitate the conduct of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) at all 61 PDM SACCOs.

These meetings will review existing structures, fill vacant positions on SACCO committees, and elect new leadership.

Dr. Walter Kumakech, the District Production Officer and PDM Focal Point Person, while addressing Parish chiefs and PDM leaders in a recent stakeholder engagement, said the directive, which aligns with the Cooperative Societies Act , forms part of broader national reforms aimed at ensuring full compliance with PDM guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

“We received a circular dated 17th March directing the CAO to double down and direct fresh elections. All your terms of office have expired, but you are eligible for election,” Kumakech said.

He added, “They have directed that we use the UGX 250,000 for either the third or fourth quarter that we have been using to facilitate our PDCs, those seven members to facilitate this exercise of election.”

The directive comes amidst heightened scrutiny of PDM SACCO operations. In recent months, several PDM leaders have faced repeated accusations from beneficiaries, including allegations of extortion, unauthorized removal of names from beneficiary lists, and other forms of corruption.

Mr. Lamet Olum, the District Commercial Officer of Zombo, assured stakeholders that all outgoing PDM SACCO leaders will undergo a comprehensive audit to verify their records and ensure a clean handover.

“After elections, we are going to have an audit. If you know your records are scattered, make sure your records are updated. If you have any problems, you’re not going to run away,” Olum noted.

The Parish Development Model, launched in February 2022 as a seven-pillar multi-sectoral strategy, seeks to transform subsistence households into the money economy by empowering every Ugandan household.

PDM Sacco leaders and Parish chiefs for a meeting at the district headquarters recently.

The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Zombo, Mr. Samson Nsamba, urged PDM SACCO leaders and Parish chiefs “to take the issue of the PDM program so seriously” to uplift the community into the money economy.

Mr. Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, called for “transparency during the election process,” warning against any form of revenge by those who may have been mistreated by the outgoing leaders.

Ayikobua emphasized the need for the election of development-oriented PDM SACCO leaders ready to effectively manage the poverty flagship programme aimed at transforming lives across the 752 villages of Zombo District.

Zombo District has been implementing the programme for five financial years since FY 2021/2022 and is currently in the stabilization phase, with increasing emphasis on digital systems such as the PDM Information System-Financial Inclusion System (PDMIS-FIS) for improved transparency.

Community Reactions

Sifa Agenumungu, a resident of Akir cell, Zingili ward, Paidha Town Council, commended the government for the directive, alleging that he was frustrated by the current PDM SACCO leaders to the extent that he gave up on the programme.

Jerose Ayenyunga, a resident of Central ward, Paidha Town Council, said: “This is more like a dream to me. I never thought this would happen. Let them initiate the election so swiftly.”

Okello, a resident of Pavur village in Serr Parish, Abanga Sub-county, welcomed the news, saying: “We believe the incoming new leaders to be elected will be kind to us because we gave up on the PDM program due to much frustration.”

Investment in Zombo’s PDM SACCOs

Over the past five financial years, the Government has injected a total of UGX 21,7 billion directly into the 61 PDM SACCOs in Zombo District, with the latest batch received in November 2025, currently at various stages of disbursement.

According to the UBOS National Population and Housing Census 2024, Zombo District has 43,212 households in the subsistence economy, representing 60.4% of total households in the district.

As at December 2025, a total of 15,533 beneficiaries , comprising 8,138 males and 7,395 females had been supported.

According to Dr. Walter Kumakech, approximately 89% of beneficiaries were supported in key enterprises including Irish Potato, Piggery, Beans, Coffee, Horticulture, and Poultry.

The directive for fresh SACCO leadership elections forms part of efforts to address governance issues, including non-compliance with guidelines, extortion and collusion in beneficiary selection, and mismanagement of funds.

Other challenges include low recovery rates, staffing gaps at the parish level, and difficulties in backlog capture due to lost documentation, migration, deaths, or beneficiary non-cooperation.

According to the leadership, the report recommends strengthened mindset-change training by Community Development Officers (CDOs), continuous advisory support from Agricultural Extension Officers, rollout of agricultural insurance schemes to build resilience against climate shocks, and a potential revision of PDM guidelines to shift from cash to input-based support for better enterprise outcomes.

Zombo RDC Festus Ayikobua (left), Assistant RDC Bruno Mananu and District CID attends PDM stakeholders Meeting at the district headquarters.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub