Bufunjo local citizens sensitised on government procedures when lobbying for service delivery

Local citizens of Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo district have been sensitised on government procedures to follow when lobbying for improved service delivery especially through the local government planning and budgetary processes during an accountability workshop organised by Bufunjo People’s Forum on 15^th April, 2013. Bufunjo People’s Forum is a rural youth and women advocacy forum whose initiation was supported by ToroDev. The forum is operating in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

“To benefit from NAADS, one must know what NAADS is, have a registered community based group for farmers, attend parish level NAADS meetings by community facilitators and follow the requirements when informed of the available opportunities, work hard when supported with NAADS and always seek technical assistance and guidance from the different service providers at sub county level.” Said Mr. Akugizibwe Lawrence, the Bufunjo Sub County NAADS coordinator.

Local Citizens at the meeting

The meeting which was attended by the sub county political and technical staff and other district local government leaders was mobilized using the live radio talkshows, mobile phone technologies of SMS and calls and online tools of emailing and facebook.

During the workshop, the local citizens also got a platform to engage with their local leaders on their priority service delivery issues, “I raise my concern over the shoddy work of Kifuka-Mbale-Karukujenge road especially on River Kahombo, there is no difference between the way it has been constructed and what local people have been doing. I also raise my concern about the site supervisor who does not want to listen to the local people about their concerns of the road and also is blocking us from accessing the BOQs of the road; such a contract should be withdrawn.” Said Mr. Kizungu Rasulu of Batalika parish, Bufunjo Sub County.

The local government leaders also encouraged local citizens to participate in monitoring and implementation of the local government work to ensure sustainable development, “the local community should be stakeholders in implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes of the government to ensure sustainability.” Said the sub county chief, Mr. Businge Dan.

Bufunjo People’s Forum is one of the so far eleven (11) advocacy forums initiated by ToroDev in the Rwenzori Region districts, most of the advocacy forums have been formed by the 90 rural monitors so far trained by ToroDev since August, 2012 in online advocacy, monitoring service delivery using online social media/ICT tools like Ushahidi platform for online documentation, visualization and mapping.

The advocacy forums also use FM Radio Broadcasting as a “hub” for improved service delivery monitoring and accountability. The advocacy forums are community’s own initiatives meant to sustainably monitor and advocate for improved service delivery and demand accountability from local leaders.