FROM ONE MILLION TO A THRIVING FARM: HOW NORAH APOLOT CHANGED HER LIFE THROUGH PDM

At 67 years old, Norah Apolot from Orwadai Village, Lalle Parish, Lalle Sub- County in Soroti District, is living proof that it is never too late to transform a livelihood. Thanks to the Parish Development Model (PDM), Norah has turned a modest investment into a thriving farm that has changed her family's life.

In the 2023 financial year, Norah received one million shillings under the PDM program. With a lifelong passion for rearing goats, she invested the entire amount in six improved she-goats and one male goat. Her decision paid off handsomely within 2023, 2024 and 2025, the goats multiplied to a healthy herd of 24.

"Before PDM, I had never kept so many goats," Norah shared with a beaming smile. "This program has changed my life greatly. I can now take care of my family’s needs   school fees, food, and even medical treatment are no longer a struggle."

Norah's story does not end with goat farming. After selling some goats, she managed to buy a bull, which she now uses together with a neighbor’s bull for ox-ploughing. This move into crop farming has allowed her to venture into mixed farming, and she has also invested in rearing pigs.

Standing proudly beside her livestock, Norah said she is determined to expand her goat rearing project into a bigger commercial enterprise.

"I now intend to grow goat rearing to a bigger level. I have seen the benefits, and I want to do even more," she said with determination.

She called on her fellow villagers and Ugandans at large to embrace the Parish Development Model, describing it as a golden opportunity for rural transformation.

"I encourage everyone to embrace the PDM. It is a very good program from the government. If you use the money wisely, it can truly change your life like it has changed mine," she urged.

Norah’s story shines as a proof to the impact of government programs when matched with passion, dedication, and a vision for a better future.

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By Abraham Ekwaru, Communication Officer Soroti