Zombo, Uganda: Local leaders in Zombo District have raised concern over a growing number of marriage breakups reportedly linked to the Parish Development Model (PDM), warning that the programme risks undermining its core goal of household economic transformation.
The concerns emerged during belated International Women’s Day celebrations held on March 26, 2026, at Zombo Lower Primary School playground, where hundreds of women gathered to reflect on empowerment and development challenges.
Naftali Ucamagiu, LCIII Chairperson of Zombo Town Council, said cases of marital separation have increased as couples disagree over how to utilise PDM funds.
“Government introduced PDM to empower households, yet we are witnessing rampant marriage breakups,” Ucamagiu said. “Women are choosing to operate independently after receiving the funds, fearing their husbands will squander them. We must use these resources as couples to transform our families rather than allow them to divide us.”
Beatrice Alidong, Women’s Council Chairperson for Padea Town Council, described the trend as worrying, particularly due to its impact on children.
“Many women who received the funds have left their marriages and children behind. We urge mothers to seek compromise with their husbands so our children do not become victims of these breakups,” she said.
In Aka Sub-county, Adhingi Women Group Chairperson Focni Mungu Flower noted that access to funds has enabled some women to pursue independent livelihoods, often resulting in separation from their spouses.
Several women, speaking anonymously, pointed to underlying issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and polygamy as key reasons for choosing financial independence after receiving PDM support.
Programme data shows that while PDM prioritises women for financial inclusion—typically disbursing about Shs1 million per beneficiary—many recipients prefer to invest independently rather than pool resources within traditional household structures.
Tracy Masendi, Vice Chairperson of Zombo District Women’s Council, stressed that the programme’s intent was to strengthen families, not divide them.
“This money was not given to separate families but to bond and unite them. We need a serious change of mindset in our communities,” she said.
Yemima Unegiu, Chairperson of the District Women’s Council, called for intensified community sensitisation to ensure proper understanding and implementation of PDM guidelines.
Government has so far disbursed over Shs1 trillion to more than 10,000 PDM SACCOs nationwide since the programme’s rollout in 2022.
In Zombo District, over 80 percent of targeted parishes have received funds, although challenges such as corruption and irregularities in beneficiary selection remain.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner Bruno Mananu urged couples to embrace joint decision-making. “We call for proper planning and shared decision-making at the family level. PDM should be a tool for unity and transformation, not conflict,” he said.
Zombo District Woman MP-elect Topista Acamfua acknowledged the challenges faced by women and called on men to support their spouses in building stable households.
Meanwhile, members of the District Council’s Social Services Committee attributed the emerging tensions to inadequate sensitisation and recommended scaling up awareness campaigns to safeguard the programme’s intended impact.
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