The vice president, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, has urged beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model funds to use the loans for the intended purposes.
She said though some beneficiaries have clear business plans for the intended projects, many divert the cash to other things, some of which do not support the program objectives, ending up hindering the success of the poverty alleviation program among households.
Alupo made the remarks as she joined hundreds of Christians for Christmas prayers at Stella Maris Ariet Kapujan Catholic Parish, Toroma County, in Katakwi District.
The vice president noted the Parish Development Model (PDM) is a government program in the country that aims to improve the quality of life for Ugandans by increasing household incomes and moving the country away from subsistence farming.
“The PDM’s goal is to transition households from subsistence farming into the money economy, and its strategy is a multi-sectoral,
Which positions the parish as the centre of community development,” she said.
The PDM’s priorities include security, education, health care, roads, storage, environmental services, processing, and energy.
She told the congregation that the main aim of the Parish Development Model is to increase household incomes and improve the quality of life of Ugandans with a specific focus on the total economic transformation of the households through getting Ugandans out of the subsistence economy into the money economy within five years.
Alupo urged the Christians to adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose birthday we are celebrating today. She further asked Christians to work hard to eliminate poverty from all households in the coming year.
The vice president, however, encouraged the congregation to always pay attention to church readings during Mass. She also thanked the faithful for coming to church so early to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. She also lauded Christians for serving God and asked to continue praying for all leaders, including the president and the first lady. She assured the faithful that the government will continue to deliver on security, roads, health, education, and other social services to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
She asked Christians to make the best use of the above services to better their lives. She informed the congregation that Katakwi General Hospital would be constructed to the level of a specialised hospital for more complicated medical cases. Meanwhile, Toroma Health Centre has already received money for the construction of a theatre, the vice president said.
Rev. Fr. John Ejonu, who led the Christmas Mass, encouraged the faithful to embrace government livelihood programs. He further appealed to them to share the little they have with others. He asked the Christians to take Christmas as a gift from God.
