Kaliro, Uganda: A widow from Kaliro District has transformed a Shs1 million Parish Development Model (PDM) loan into a thriving livestock enterprise, becoming a model beneficiary of the government’s flagship poverty eradication programme.
Ms Galyanga Proscovia Kairanya, a resident of Bukongolo Village in Kasokwe Parish and Sub-county, has grown her investment from two pigs into a flourishing livestock venture that now supports her family’s welfare and education needs.
Her success story emerged during a Parish Development Model monitoring and documentation exercise conducted by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) under the guidance of Senior Presidential Advisor and ONC National Coordinator, SPA/PA Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye.
The exercise was led by ONC Kaliro District Coordinator Mr Wabwire Andrew and Kasokwe Parish Chief Ms Kaseha Eve to assess the progress and impact of the programme among beneficiaries.
Proscovia received Shs1 million under the PDM programme in 2024 and immediately invested the funds in piggery farming. She purchased two pigs at Shs400,000 each, spent Shs100,000 on constructing a temporary pig shelter, and used the balance to buy feeds and other necessities.
The investment quickly began yielding results.
Within a short period, the pigs produced 12 piglets, providing the foundation for a sustainable income-generating enterprise. Encouraged by the growth, Proscovia expanded the project and by July 2025 had sold nine pigs, using the proceeds to purchase a bull and pay school fees for her children.
“Today, I still have seven pigs after selling several piglets. I am happy because every six months I can generate income and acquire more assets from this project. As a widow, this initiative has enabled me to pay school fees and improve the welfare of my family,” Proscovia said.
Before joining the Parish Development Model, she relied largely on subsistence farming with limited opportunities to earn a steady income. She says the programme provided the capital she had long needed to establish a sustainable livelihood.
“I thank President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for thinking about ordinary people like us and providing us with starting capital. Through PDM, I have moved from subsistence farming to income generation and asset accumulation. What started with pigs has enabled me to purchase a bull and improve my family’s livelihood,” she added.
Kasokwe Parish Chief Ms Kaseha Eve commended Proscovia for using the funds responsibly and turning the opportunity into a profitable enterprise.
“Proscovia is a shining example of how PDM funds should be utilised. Some beneficiaries misuse the money on non-productive expenditures, but she invested wisely and is already reaping the benefits. I encourage her to gradually begin repayment so that she remains eligible for future support and opportunities,” Ms Kaseha said.
ONC Coordinator Mr Wabwire Andrew urged other beneficiaries across the district to emulate Proscovia’s commitment and focus on wealth creation.
“This money is intended for wealth creation and household development. It is not government money to be feared, nor Parish Chief money to be ignored. It is meant to help citizens transform their lives. Beneficiaries should emulate Proscovia’s commitment and determination,” he said.
Mr Wabwire also praised local leaders, Parish Development Committees and technical officers for ensuring accountability and transparency in the implementation of the programme.
“During our monitoring exercise, we did not register cases where PDM funds failed to reach the intended beneficiaries. This is a positive sign of effective leadership and commitment to the success of the programme,” he noted.
The Parish Development Model remains one of the government’s key interventions aimed at transitioning households from subsistence production to the money economy. Success stories such as Proscovia’s are increasingly being highlighted as evidence of the programme’s impact on poverty reduction, household income growth and rural transformation.
For Proscovia, what began as a Shs1 million investment has become a pathway to financial independence, demonstrating how strategic use of PDM funds can transform livelihoods and create lasting economic opportunities for rural families.
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