“Radio discussions have helped us to raise our issues to the concerned local leaders”, Mukwano Ssenyonjo

Local citizens from Kabarole and Ntoroko Districts have indicated how radio discussions have helped them to raise their issues to the concerned local leaders for better service delivery in their sub counties. While appearing on ToroDev supported accountability live radio discussion on Better FM called the “Listener’s Forum” on 13^th October 2013, the local citizens indicated how radios have helped them to demand for better services from their local leaders. “Radio discussions have helped us to raise our issues and ask the concerned leaders to intervene”, said Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairman of Peoples Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District.

Mr. Mukwano went ahead to discuss the qualities of a good leader who can lobby for his or her people. “A good leader should not be a ruler, he should listen to his people’s issues and lobby for better services, be transparent and give accountability to his people. Most leaders have become corrupt in their offices, they lobby funds for their own mutual benefits and fail to deliver better services”.

An accountability meeting at Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District

Other participants who appeared on the live radio discussion were Nasan Bwambale a local citizen from Nombe Sub County and Mathe Moses a local citizen from Karugutu Town Council, all in Ntoroko District.  

During the live radio discussion, the local citizens appealed to their local leaders to improve road service delivery in their sub counties. “Most of our roads are impassable due to the flooding rivers whose bridges were constructed badly. Itule – Nombe Bridge was constructed poorly. The fixed culverts are too small compared to the volume of water and instead, water flows on top of the culverts. The District also brought culverts on Wasa - Banawa Bridge in Kyabandara Parish but these culverts are still on sight and have never been fixed. We mobilized the community and made a temporally bridge on River Wasa that is being used by people only”, said Nasan Bwambale from Nombe Sub County in Ntoroko District. “Nombe road is very poor because of River Wasa that floods due to the small culverts and this has highly affected our transport and markets”, said Maate Moses from Karugutu Town Council, Ntoroko District.

Mean while, Mr. Mukwano also discussed the status of service delivery in Mugusu Sub County. “Most roads in Mugusu Sub County are poor and impassable during the rainy season, such roads include Kibona – Kasusu road, Kaboyo – Kyezere road and Kabagona road. There is also understaffing at Mugusu Health Center IV , most of the staff were recruited to other health centers and no new ones were brought in”.

The program was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred who allowed the local citizens to participate in the discussions through call in and SMS.