PDM Beneficiaries Struggle to Repay Loans Due to Poor Knowledge of Wendi App

By: Meddy Walusimbi Omuyiribi | Saturday, July 25th, 2026
KAMPALA

KAMPALA CENTRAL DIVISION
The Parish Development Model in Kampala Central is being slowed down not by the Wendi app, but by beneficiaries who do not know how to use it, Kampala Central Division Commercial Officer Happy Richard has said.

Speaking during a PDM baraza at Bat Valley Primary School Main Hall on Friday 24th July 2026, Mr. Richard told residents, LC leaders, and parish chiefs from Nakasero III, Nakivubo and Old Kampala that mindset change and digital training are now key priorities for this financial year.

“The problem is not the Wendi app itself. The problem is people who don’t know how to use it to pay back and to access more funds,” he said.

Repayment challenges persist
According to Mr. Richard, each parish receives Shs 100m per year under PDM, disbursed as Shs 50m per quarter.

However, disbursement and repayment have been slow. He revealed that Nakasero III parish still has a balance of Shs 107m on its Sacco account, while both Old Kampala and Nakivubo have Shs 100m each unaccessed.

He blamed part of the delay on the Ministry of Health’s ban on public gatherings during the Ebola outbreak, which stopped the election of new PDM committees. He called on the Ministry to issue new guidance now that the Ebola threat has ended.

On repayments, Nakasero III beneficiaries have so far paid back only Shs 11,500,000, while Nakivubo beneficiaries have paid Shs 16,220,000.

Mr. Richard urged all beneficiaries whose loans are due to repay immediately.
“There is a false mindset that PDM money is free government money to eat. This money now belongs to the parish. Failure to pay back will lead to repercussions,” he warned.

Youth and other special interest groups are entitled to 10% of every parish’s PDM allocation to support enterprises such as soft drinks businesses.

Residency requirement locks out many in Kampala
Mr. Richard also flagged another challenge unique to Kampala Central.

According to Ministry of Finance guidelines, PDM is only given to residents who “sleep” in a given parish. But in Kampala Central, over 70% of people have voting rights in the parishes but do not sleep there.

“We have officially written to the Ministry to guide us on this matter. It is one of the reasons many people in Central have not benefited from PDM,” he said.

He added that the new PDM committees will have the responsibility of ensuring repayments are made so that other beneficiaries can also access the funds.

By Meddy Walusimbi Omuyiribi (medywalusimbi@gmail.com)