Kisoro Southern Division to Disburse Shs150 Million in PDM Funds to Beneficiaries
At least 150 residents of Southern Division in Kisoro Municipality are expected to receive one million shillings each under the Parish Development Model (PDM) before the end of September, according to division officials.
The disclosure was made during a PDM community sensitization meeting held at the Southern Division offices on Friday. The meeting aimed at preparing beneficiaries on how to properly utilize the funds.
The Southern Division Assistant Town Clerk, Michael Niyonzima Bazamanza, cautioned beneficiaries against misusing the money, stressing that PDM funds are not a gift from the President but a government loan that beneficiaries are expected to repay.
He urged beneficiaries to invest the money in the projects they identified during the selection process and warned them against spending the funds on luxuries.
The Kisoro Municipality Commercial Officer, Aaron Mfitumukiza, particularly cautioned young beneficiaries against using the money for marriage ceremonies, drinking in bars, or other non-productive activities.
He said the funds are intended to help households fight poverty through investment in income-generating activities.
Mfitumukiza also said Southern Division had delayed disbursing the funds, noting that officials were working to ensure that all selected beneficiaries receive the money before the end of September.
He urged beneficiaries to work hard and make productive use of the funds, adding that Central and Northern divisions were expected to begin disbursing money to beneficiaries the following day.
The Southern Division LC3 Chairperson, Ndahiro James, called on ward agents and PDM SACCO leaders to work diligently to ensure that all selected beneficiaries receive their funds on time.
He also urged people who benefited from the programme in 2024 to begin repaying their loans so that other residents can benefit from the programme.
Ndahiro further warned PDM agents against soliciting money from people selected to benefit from the programme.
Meanwhile, the Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Dan Ndikumwami, urged young people who support opposition political parties to join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), linking the call to access to government programmes such as PDM.
Ndikumwami said, in his view, young people should promote awareness of PDM and other government programmes, which provide beneficiaries with one million shillings to establish income-generating projects.
He also expressed concern about young people who, according to him, remain poor while others are benefiting from PDM and other government programmes.
Ndikumwami urged beneficiaries to invest the money wisely and produce tangible results that could serve as examples to other residents and encourage further government investment in the PDM programme.
