On 29th January 2026, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Women’s League once again demonstrated its growing influence in shaping Uganda’s development agenda, as senior female leaders convened a high-level engagement focused on the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other key government programs.
The meeting was led by the NRM 2nd National Vice Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, who was joined by the Chairperson of the NRM Women’s League, Hon. Adrine Kobusingye. Together, the two leaders met a delegation from the Office of the Auditor General and their technical team to deliberate on the performance, challenges, and accountability mechanisms surrounding PDM implementation across the country.
The engagement reflected the continued commitment of women leaders within the NRM to ensure that government programs are not only well-intentioned but also effectively delivered to the grassroots communities they are designed to uplift.
Rt. Hon. Anita Among and Hon. Adrine Kobusingye have worked closely over recent years and were both highly instrumental in the recently concluded NRM party campaigns. Their collaboration has become a symbol of unity, discipline, and purpose within the Women’s League, reinforcing the critical role women play in political mobilization, policy advocacy, and governance.
During the discussions, the focus squarely rested on the Parish Development Model, which remains one of the flagship government programs aimed at transforming household incomes and integrating ordinary Ugandans into the money economy. The leaders emphasized that PDM is not just a policy on paper but a lifeline for millions of citizens whose livelihoods depend on agriculture, small enterprises, and community-based economic activities.
Rt. Hon. Anita Among spoke candidly about the impact of PDM on Uganda’s economy, noting that where the program has been properly implemented, communities have experienced tangible improvements in productivity, access to capital, and economic resilience. She linked these visible benefits directly to the NRM’s recent electoral success, stating that many Ugandans voted for the party because they had personally witnessed the positive changes brought about by PDM and other government initiatives.
However, the Speaker did not shy away from addressing the serious challenges undermining the program’s effectiveness. She raised concerns about delayed disbursement of funds, double payments, and misaligned priorities at the local level, all of which threaten to dilute the intended impact of PDM.
In a firm and uncompromising tone, Rt. Hon. Anita Among called on the Auditor General to intensify oversight and ensure strict accountability in the management of PDM funds. She stressed that every shilling allocated must reach the right beneficiaries, warning that mismanagement and diversion of resources erode public trust and weaken development outcomes.
Reports indicating that up to 70 percent of PDM funds may be reaching unintended recipients were described as alarming. The Speaker urged the auditing team to crack down on corruption, favoritism, and negligence, emphasizing that transparency and fairness are non-negotiable if the program is to succeed.
Hon. Adrine Kobusingye echoed these sentiments, reaffirming the Women’s League’s commitment to safeguarding government programs that directly affect women, youth, and vulnerable households. She highlighted the unique role women leaders play in monitoring grassroots initiatives, given their close connection to communities and firsthand understanding of local challenges.
She further emphasized that women must not only be beneficiaries of PDM but also active participants in oversight, implementation, and decision-making. According to Hon. Kobusingye, empowering women within the PDM framework strengthens accountability and ensures that funds translate into sustainable livelihoods rather than short-term relief.
Both leaders agreed that while PDM remains a powerful tool for economic transformation, its success depends on discipline, integrity, and coordinated leadership across all levels of government. They called for continuous engagement between political leaders, technocrats, and oversight institutions to close gaps and improve service delivery.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to defend the integrity of PDM and ensure it fulfills its promise of lifting Ugandans out of poverty. The NRM Women’s League reaffirmed its support for H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his vision for inclusive development, emphasizing that accountable governance is key to sustaining public confidence and national progress.
As the Women’s League continues to mobilize, advocate, and lead, the message from today’s engagement was clear: development must be felt at the grassroots, accountability must be enforced, and women remain central to Uganda’s transformation journey.
