KAMPALA, Uganda: The Director General of Enterprise Uganda, Mr. Charles Ocici, has advised that individual financial discipline, integrity, and training among beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program are key stimulating factors in the growth agenda of the program. He noted that practical success stories must be told by the original beneficiary group of the fund from four years ago.
Ocici told this website during an exclusive interview on 3rd March 2026 at the Enterprise Uganda headquarters in Butabika, Luzira, Nakawa Division, that since the official launch of the program in 2022 in Eastern Uganda by the President, it is important for the pioneers of the UGX 139 billion fund to come forward and share their stories to inspire others.
He observed that Enterprise Uganda, a government parastatal body established by an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has played a pivotal role in carrying out strategic, simple but impactful business start-up training programs. These programs have enabled hundreds of thousands of people to confidently access PDM funds after mastering the basic rules of business.
He noted that, as a result, those who received training have effectively and gradually utilized the PDM funds, leading to steady growth and transition from the traditional PDM UGX 1 million loan to securing Wendi wallet loans from Pearl Bank, which is government-owned and offers low lending interest rates.
He commended the government for the program, saying it has significantly enabled many people to start their own smallholder businesses, with the majority now posting strong and convincing profit margins as well as visible growth in property and assets. He attributed this success to conducting business professionally with basic training provided by Enterprise Uganda.
Ocici emphasized the need for beneficiaries to acquire proper training so they can understand the basic rules of running a smallholder business that achieves steady growth and minimizes losses.
He concluded by pledging that Enterprise Uganda would continue its mandate of empowering smallholder businessmen and women with relevant skills to help them grow from small to medium and eventually to large-scale enterprises. He added that beneficiaries should stay alert to know when and where the next training sessions will take place.
He thanked the President for the financial boost extended to the institution, saying it has enabled them to build capacity among thousands of entrepreneurs to run profitable businesses, thereby improving loan recovery rates, gradually reducing loan defaults, and promoting a strong culture of saving.
