State Minister for Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region Ms. Alice Kaboyo held a meeting with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Chief coordinator Gen. Salim Saleh on Wednesday, to brief him on the progress of the implementation of the Parish Community Association (PCA), which her ministry initiated in 2018 and had been successfully implemented in Luwero Triangle and Busoga sub-region as pilot project.
PCA model is just a small component in the bigger Parish Development Model (PDM) project, whose paperwork and modus operandi was designed by Gen. Salim Saleh and Dr. Ezra Sabiti Suruma, while they were both ministers at the ministry of Finance way back in 2006.
The project targets to benefit low income earners across the country starting from the parish level.
The idea born 15 years ago, has now metaphosed into a project dubbed “Emyooga” by president Yoweri Museveni and was rolled out in October last year. In fact, MPs were sent to their constituencies last week to ascertain it’s progress and effectiveness.
According to the minister, government is now planning to use the model (PDM) holistically in all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) for service delivery at the Parish level through the same networks.
A source who attended the closed door meeting in Gulu Barracks said, General Saleh appreciated the progress of the implementation of one of the components (PCA) of the greater model, which minister Kaboyo had gone to brief him about. Ms Kaboyo who recently assumed office, expressed her readiness to further work with OWC leadership structures on the model.
“I have never seen the General in such a joyous mood like today, but I can tell you it took him by surprise and was mesmerized to learn that the model (Parish Development Model), whose paper work he did together with Prof. Ezra Suruma 15 years ago, was finally receiving the appreciation it deserves.” Ms Kaboyo said after the meeting.
Gen Saleh also, in a special way, thanked Government and Ms Kaboyo’s Ministry, saying he learnt from her presentation that was already a step ahead in implementation of the project -our Source stated.
Ms Alice Kaboyo thanked the Gen and Prof. Suruma for the great work when they hatched such a brilliant idea aimed at uplifting the welfare of Ugandans, and said the Government’s approach to its implementation was the way to go.
She pledged total cooperation with OWC team on ground in her area of jurisdiction in as far as implementation of their well-thought after agricultural projects are concerned.
The Parish Community Association model mobilizes people at Parish levels into associations who then elect leadership before applying for a total of up to UGX30million, revolving fund. A member uses the funds strictly for economic emancipation and later returns it before the funds are given to another member. This project has so far been successfully tried in Busoga Sub-region and Luwero Triangle.