Ahimbisibwe’s PDM Journey: From Shs1m funds to thriving piggery business in Ibanda

Ibanda, (UG):- Mrs. Harriet Ahimbisibwe, a small-scale farmer in Ibanda Municipality Tuesday narrated how she has transformed her life through the Parish Development Model (PDM), turning an initial Shs1 million loan into a thriving piggery business.

A resident of Kyarukobwa village, Kyaruhanga ward, Kagongo division, Mrs Ahimbisibwe is among the many Ugandans who have benefited from the government’s initiative aimed at lifting households from subsistence farming into the money economy.

She told her story before President Yoweri Museveni, who visited her home during his wealth creation assessment tour in Ankole on Tuesday afternoon.

A Modest Beginning

In 2023, Ahimbisibwe applied for a Shs 1 million PDM loan through her community group and received Shs880,000. With this, she bought two female pigs at Shs350,000 each, using the remaining amount for feeds and gumboots.

Despite challenges with the two pigs she already owned, her new investment soon paid off when both sows gave birth—one to nine piglets and the other to ten. “I sold some of the piglets and earned Shs1.2 million. Since then, I have sold 22 pigs,” Ahimbisibwe proudly shared.

Expanding Beyond Piggery

With the growing income from pig farming, she purchased a plot of land and rented additional farmland for maize cultivation, and also maximized resources by using pig manure to fertilize her banana plantation, significantly improving her harvests.

“Before this, I relied only on my banana plantation, but the income was minimal. Now, with pig farming, I earn more, and my bananas grow better,” she explained.

Ahimbisibwe’s resilience and innovative approach to farming earned praise from President Museveni, who described her as an example of the mindset needed to drive Uganda’s economic transformation.

During the visit, Museveni reaffirmed his focus on supporting those still outside the money economy, rather than the already well-off. “Our priority is helping Ugandans move from subsistence farming into the money economy. Ahimbisibwe’s success proves that with the right support, small-scale farmers can thrive,” the President noted.

The President further supported her with an additional Shs10 million to expand her farm and promised to provide transport to ease her work.