Kapelebyong, Uganda: When Parish Development Model (PDM) funds reached Akolikeje Cell in Oderai Ward, Kapelebyong Town Council in 2023, few people imagined that one of the programme’s most remarkable success stories would emerge from a man once known more for alcohol consumption than productive enterprise.
Today, Mr. Eceru Simon stands as a living testimony of the transformation that can occur when government financing is combined with mindset change, community support, and personal determination.
The story, uncovered during ongoing field monitoring by the Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC), reflects the broader vision of President Museveni’s flagship poverty eradication programme, which seeks to transition millions of Ugandans from subsistence living into the money economy.
According to Mr. Francis Okiror, the ONC District Coordinator for Kapelebyong, Eceru’s transformation began after he received Shs1 million through his Parish SACCO under the PDM programme.
“Before PDM, many people in the community knew him as a daily drinking officer whose perfume was always alcohol,” Okiror recalled during a monitoring visit.
Like thousands of beneficiaries across the country, Eceru not only received financial support but also participated in the programme’s mindset change and financial inclusion training sessions designed to help beneficiaries make productive use of the revolving funds.
Instead of spending the money on consumption, he invested in seven goats.
Three years later, that decision has transformed his life. Today, Eceru owns a herd of 50 goats, making him one of the standout examples of how strategic investment and discipline can create wealth even from modest beginnings.
“PDM Opened My Eyes”
Speaking to the ONC Coordinator, Eceru said the programme fundamentally changed how he viewed life, work, and personal responsibility. “PDM mindset training opened my eyes,” he said. “I left alcohol and chose goats. Today I have assets, peace of mind, and a future. I never want to see a bottle of alcohol in my compound again.”
Despite living with a physical disability that affects his mobility, Eceru has continued to expand his livestock enterprise and now serves as an inspiration to fellow beneficiaries across Kapelebyong District.
He believes goat farming remains one of the most practical and profitable enterprises for households seeking to create wealth through PDM. “Goats multiply quickly. If someone is disciplined and takes care of them well, they can transform their household within a short period,” Eceru said.
The benefits of Eceru’s success now extend far beyond his own household.
According to local leaders, he regularly allows fellow farmers to use his breeding he-goat free of charge, helping improve livestock breeds throughout the community.
The LC1 Chairperson of Akolikeje Cell praised Eceru’s contribution, saying many households have already benefited from stronger goat breeds and increased livestock productivity. “He is not only improving his own life but also helping other farmers improve theirs,” the chairperson said.
Community members say the practice has strengthened social cooperation while boosting livestock production and household incomes across the village.
PDM’s Bigger National Mission
Eceru’s story mirrors the broader objectives of the Parish Development Model, which was launched in 2022 to move Uganda’s remaining subsistence households into the money economy.
The wealth creation flagship programme was specifically designed to target the estimated 39 percent of Ugandan households that were still trapped in subsistence production, unable to generate enough income to participate meaningfully in the country’s economic growth.
Under the programme, government sends Shs100 million annually to every parish through Parish SACCOs, enabling selected beneficiaries to access affordable capital for income-generating enterprises.
Since rollout, the government has established and capitalised 10,589 PDM SACCOs across the country, creating one of the largest grassroots financial inclusion programmes in Uganda’s history.
According to government figures, more than Shs3.2 trillion has already been transferred directly to parishes under the programme, with approximately 3.27 million Ugandans having benefited from the revolving funds.
The programme’s central objective is not merely distributing money but transforming household economies through enterprise development, savings culture, production, value addition, and mindset change.
ONC Monitoring Highlights Results
Across the country, ONC field monitoring teams have increasingly documented stories similar to Eceru’s as beneficiaries invest in livestock, poultry, coffee, horticulture, piggery, and other productive ventures.
Officials say monitoring exercises are critical in identifying success stories, tracking challenges, and ensuring that beneficiaries utilise funds for intended purposes.
Mr. Okiror believes Eceru perfectly embodies the philosophy behind the programme. “Eceru Simon moved from alcohol dependency to asset ownership. He moved from consumption to production. He moved from dependence to self-reliance,” he said.
“This is exactly the wealth creation and mindset transformation President Museveni envisioned when the Parish Development Model was introduced.”
For many years, poverty reduction programmes often focused on providing handouts without fundamentally changing attitudes toward productivity and wealth creation. But PDM seeks to address both financial and psychological barriers to development by combining access to capital with continuous sensitisation and mindset transformation.
Officials argue that success stories such as Eceru’s demonstrate that when beneficiaries embrace discipline and enterprise development, even a relatively small investment can become a foundation for long-term economic empowerment.
As Uganda continues implementing the Parish Development Model nationwide, stories emerging from villages such as Akolikeje are increasingly becoming symbols of the country’s broader journey from subsistence to commercial production.
For Eceru Simon, the journey started with seven goats and a decision to abandon alcohol. Today, his herd of 50 goats stands as proof that poverty can be defeated when opportunity meets determination.
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