“In Kicwamba Sub County, community roads are better than District and Central Government roads”, Rwaheru Gilbert.

The local citizens of Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District appeared on Better FM on 24th November 2013 to discuss their service delivery issues. This was during the ‘Listeners Forum’ a 2hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (08:00-10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev.

“In Kicwamba Sub County, we have three kinds of roads, those that are managed by the community, those under the district and those under the central government. However, roads maintained by the community are better than roads under the district and central government. This is because of the little funds that the central government allocates for road maintenance”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole District.

The poor roads in Kicwamba Sub County

During the discussion, Gilbert went ahead to indicted how Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery is being used to lobby for better roads. “Through Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery, a forum that is initiated by the local people, we mobilized leaders to tax companies and vehicles collecting stones from Hurugongo and as we talk, 10 (ten) million shillings has been collected to the sub county account to work on the roads”.

Meanwhile, the live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Kachope Matsiko, a local citizen from Kicwamba Sub County who discussed how roads are the most important services since they are used to access other services. “Roads are the most important services that should be given first priority because they are used to access other services like water, health centers and schools. However, it is too sad that the money allocated by the government for road maintenance is too little. Kakondwa-Harugongo road, Kinyamangi road and Kihondo roads are all in the budget to be worked on but the allocated funds are too little”.

Local citizens also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins. “Our roads are so poor”, said Roger from Katebwa Sub County, “Wasa bridge is so poor and hindering our movements”, said Allelluah from Ntoroko District, “Rwabaganda road is so poor with a lot of pot holes”, said Musa from Kagorogoro, “The demonstration has helped because most leaders have been dormant”, said Elizabeth from Harugongo, “Our Members of Parliament are too dormant and have never come back on ground to pick our issues” said Swaibu.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Alituha Patrick.