Councilors of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have been urged to take an active leadership role in implementing the Parish Development Model (PDM) to drive inclusive grassroots development.
This call was made during a three-day strategic retreat held in Entebbe from May 14 to 16, where both political and technical leaders of KCCA aligned their priorities with national frameworks, including the PDM, the fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), the KCCA Strategic Plan (2025–2030), and the Client Service Charter.
Robert Ssendegeya from the PDM Secretariat explained that the initiative seeks to transition 3.5 million Ugandan households from subsistence living to active participation in the cash economy by using parishes as centers of planning and service delivery.
“PDM is more than just cash distribution. It’s a holistic development framework requiring collaboration across all its components — from financial empowerment to administration and mindset transformation,” Ssendegeya said.
Currently, all 98 parishes in Kampala have each received at least UGX 300 million through the Parish Revolving Fund for income-generating projects. A total of UGX 19.257 billion has been disbursed across the city between the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24, benefiting 19,257 people.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki commended the councilors for their cooperation and emphasized their responsibility in ensuring effective implementation and oversight.
“The effectiveness of PDM rests on your grassroots leadership. Councilors should not only back the program but also evaluate its outcomes and uphold accountability,” Buzeki said.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago echoed the call for closer supervision and higher standards in public service delivery.
“Take an interest in the activities within your parishes. All interventions must be implemented properly and meet the required benchmarks,” Lukwago urged.
Speaker of the KCCA Council, Zahara Maala Luyirika, encouraged unity among stakeholders to improve services for city residents.
“If we are to deliver top-notch services, we must collaborate harmoniously. Let’s direct our energies toward addressing citizens’ priorities,” she said.
With the upcoming launch of the KCCA Strategic Plan (2025–2030), the Parish Development Model is expected to remain central to the city’s transformation agenda.
