A trillion shillings has been disbursed to Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries through Wendi, a digital wallet developed by PostBank Uganda, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s push for financial inclusion at the grassroots.
“We received about UGX500 billion in January this year and another UGX500 billion at the beginning of June, all of which has been disbursed to all the parish SACCO group accounts, as well as reached the individual beneficiaries,” George William Kiyingi, Head of Agent Banking and Fintech Distribution at PostBank, said in an interview.
According to Kiyingi, Wendi has transformed access to financial services in rural Uganda. “Before Wendi, beneficiaries had to travel long distances—sometimes from Nakapiripirit to Moroto or from Pallisa to Mbale—just to open bank accounts. Now, all you need is a national ID and a phone, and you’re registered in minutes,” he explained.
Crucially, Wendi is fully integrated with the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS), the government’s centralized digital platform for managing PDM loan applications and approvals. Kiyingi revealed that they have already onboarded over 1.3 million PDM beneficiaries since 2024, and that number keeps growing.
“Since February 2024, before any disbursement happens on Wendi, the system automatically checks with PDMIS to verify whether the loan has been approved. If it hasn’t been cleared in PDMIS, the payment fails,” Kiyingi said. “This integration ensures transparency, accountability, and prevents disbursement errors.”
Wendi also ensures financial governance at the SACCO level. Each group account is controlled by three leaders—chairperson, secretary, and treasurer—and any transaction must be unanimously approved. “If even one doesn’t approve, the transaction is rejected,” Kiyingi noted.
Beyond disbursement, Wendi supports savings and loan repayment. “We offer up to 10% annual interest on savings made through Wendi,” Kiyingi said, adding that they [PostBank Uganda] are using this incentive to build a culture of saving in Uganda.
PostBank also plans to offer follow-on loans via Wendi for beneficiaries who successfully repay their initial PDM loans. “We want to move people from subsistence to sustainability,” Kiyingi said. “Wendi is more than a payment channel—it’s a tool for lasting empowerment.”
PostBank aims to extend Wendi’s reach to every corner of Uganda, ensuring no one is left behind in the financial ecosystem.
