Lived experiences of parish development model beneficiaries in Buteraniro-Nyeihanga Town Council, Rwampara District

Abstract

Despite decades of government interventions aimed at reducing poverty, poverty has remained a major challenge in Uganda. In response, the government introduced the Parish Development Model (PDM) in 2022 as a decentralized, community-driven strategy to help subsistence households join the monetized economy. Unlike earlier programs such as NAADS, YLP, and OWC, which were often criticized for centralized planning, elite capture, and limited sustainability, PDM emphasizes bottom-up planning, parish-level SACCOs, and revolving funds that target vulnerable groups, including women, youth and persons with disabilities. However, there is still limited evidence on how beneficiaries at the parish level experience, access and perceive the socio-economic effects of PDM, especially under the financial inclusion pillar. The main objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of PDM beneficiaries in Buteraniro-Nyeihanga Town Council, Rwampara District. The specific objectives were to establish beneficiaries’ perceptions and attitudes towards PDM, examine the challenges in accessing and utilizing PDM resources and services, and assess the socioeconomic effects of the program on their lives. Guided by Empowerment Theory, the study used a qualitative case study design. Data were collected from 34 purposively selected participants through 10 in-depth interviews, 2 focus group discussions and six key informant interviews, and were analyzed thematically. The findings show that many beneficiaries have positive perceptions of PDM and appreciate its participatory and inclusive approach, although some regarded the funds as a political gift rather than a revolving loan. Challenges operated at the individual level (limited financial literacy and misuse of funds), the interpersonal and group level (spousal consent and weak SACCO governance), the cultural level (gender norms and political patronage) and the structural level (bureaucratic delays, high transaction costs, poorly timed disbursement, climate shocks and inadequate monitoring). Beneficiaries who invested productively reported improved income, food security, payment of school fees and social capital, but outcomes were uneven. In conclusion, PDM has produced partial empowerment at individual, organizational and community levels, which is limited by structural, institutional and gender constraints. The study recommends depoliticized sensitization, financial literacy and mentoring, simplified and seasonally timed disbursement, stronger and gender-responsive SACCO governance, better facilitation of parish-level implementers, and climate resilience and market linkages, with clearly assigned implementing actors.