Local
citizens from Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District held a live radio
discussion on Better FM on 9th June 2013, highlighting their
priority service delivery issues especially the deteriorating education sector
and roads. The live radio program which discusses issues of accountability is
held every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00pm) on Better FM, Fort Portal is called the ‘Listener’s
Forum’ and is supported by ToroDev. The program moderator is Mukonyezi Wilfred.
The panelists
on the talkshow were Muzoora Godwin and Hafusimana William who are members of
Katooke Advocacy Forum – a rural advocacy forum operating in Katooke Sub
County, Kyenjojo District whose initiation was supported by ToroDev. Listeners
also participated using call-ins, SMS and the listeners forum facebook page.
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| One of the Classroom at Rubango Primary School |
The
panelists and listeners advocated for increased government support to Rubango
Primary School which holds a total number of over 150 (one hundred and fifty) students
with only six teachers and one toilet that was constructed by parents and is being
used by both the teachers and the pupils. The school also has inadequate classroom
blocks that are in a poor state.
“The
performance of the school has totally declined because of the poor conditions
in the school. Government has to allocate more funds and staff in the school to
save the situation.” Said Muzoora Godwin, the Chairman of Katooke People’s
Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.
Members
of Katooke Advocacy Forum also used the discussion to talk about the shoddy
work that was done at Rubango Primary school. There was 5million that was
allocated to the school for the construction of a new toilet. However, a
substandard tenderer was used by the corrupt local officials who wanted to use
some of the money for their own mutual needs, and the constructed toilet
collapsed even before the pupils used it. “We are following up the people who
were responsible for the construction of this toilet. We need accountability
about how the funds were used, and the tender has to be cancelled so that the
latrine is rebuilt.” Said Muzoora Godwin, the Chairman of Katooke People’s
Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.
 |
| Poorly constructed Toilet at Rubango Primary School |
The
rural monitors also raised the issue of the poor road that leads to Rubango
Primary school. The road is swampy and becomes impassable during the rainy
season. The road has not been graded for
the past fifteen years (15), and is only being maintained by the local
community. “We are concerned about the poor state of the road which passes
through a swamp and becomes floody in the rainy season. This road also attracts
dangerous animals like snakes if not maintained well by cutting the bushes
around it. We are appealing to the concerned local leaders to save the
situation since this road leads to many places like Rubango Primary School and
other five villages thus it is being used by many people.”
The
local people also participated through call-ins and SMS and appreciated the
work of the rural monitors and rural advocacy forum clubs in ensuring
accountability and service delivery monitoring, “Am very happy about the work
that the rural monitors are doing to follow up the poor services in our Sub
County and share them on radio. This will help us in a way that all our local
leaders will get to know about our sufferings and intervene to rescue the
situation.” Said Byakagamba Francis from Mukunyu Trading Center in Kyenjojo
District.
Documented by Kogere Rachael
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