Better service delivery realized in different Sub Counties of the Rwenzori Region as a result of the rural monitors activities of demanding accountability from the local leaders and monitoring service delivery

ToroDev has been highly involved in mentoring and supporting the initiation and strengthening advocacy forums to champion the demanding of improved service delivery and democratic engagement through the use of ICT tools like radio, phones, online plat forms like face book, twitter, Ushahidi, skype, among others in the Rwenzori Region districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge  and Bundibugyo. The advocacy forums are community’s own initiated initiatives meant to sustainably monitor and advocate for improved service delivery and demand accountability from the local leaders.     

 

Rural monitors with lap tops received from ToroDev

Advocacy forums have been highly involved in organizing the community to demand for better services from the local leaders. “All our roads had been destroyed by the heavy trucks that carry pozzalana. We went on radio several times appealing to the local leaders to intervene but nothing was done. We then organized the community for a peaceful demonstration against the poor roads and leaders were able to intervene and as I talk, some of the roads have been worked on such as Kyakagusa road, Kisanga-Headquater road, Kagogo-Kaguma road, among others”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole District.

Rural monitors of Bufunjo Sub County in Kyenjojo District have also gone ahead to monitor their local leaders against improper use of office and public funds. “As rural monitors, we have followed up and monitored corrupt leaders who are affecting proper service delivery. Bufunjo Sub County received 152(one hundred and fifty two) bicycles from the ministry to help VHTs(Village Health Teams) run their activities. However, the Sub County Health Assistant made a private meeting with the coordinators in which they agreed to impose a charge of Shs. 30,000 on each VHT member who was going to receive the bicycle. As a forum, we informed the concerned leaders who are helping us to follow up the issue”, said Mr. Tibeha John Bosco, the general secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum.

Advocacy Forums have worked hand in hand with radio journalists by forwarding community issues to the journalists for broadcasting which has increased information and knowledge sharing. “By broadcasting in local languages, local people have been informed especially on issues relating to service delivery and accountability. The radio discussions have also provided better ways to involve local leaders for accountability and  also demand for better services from them”, said Muhindo Ezra, the Chairperson of Katebwa Advocacy Forum in Katebwa Sub County, Kabarole District.

In conclusion, there is need to conduct more sensitization meetings with members of the rural advocacy forums/rural monitors to empower them with skills to skillfully engage with their local leaders for improved service delivery.

Assessing the National Resistance Movement's performance since 1986

On 25^th January 2014, panelists appeared on HITS FM to assess the performance of the National Resistance Movement's government since it took over power. This was during the ‘Orukurato Program’ a 2 hour weekly program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev. “On 26^th January 2014, the National Resistance Movement will be celebrating 28years of power. Ugandans will also be celebrating 28 years of peace and stability”, said Lawyer Goan from the National Resistance Movement Party.

The two hour live radio talk show was also attended by Lawyer Musana, an advocate of the high court from the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change) Party and Mr. Bamanyisa Patrick, a journalist in Kabarole District.

President  Museveni, Chairman of National Resistance Movement

During the program, LawyerMusana indicated the weaknesses of the NRM government. “There are high levels of poverty in the country and that’s why we see people dying of jiggers in Karamoja. The UPE and USE programs are also performing poorly and dropout rates are so high, only 2milion is allocated to a school of 2000(two thousand) students per term. Mulago is the only national referral hospital in the country which was built in the 1960s and it is even not well installed with enough equipment, that’s why we see many people traveling to other countries for treatment”. 

Mr. Bamanyisa also participated in the live radio discussion by praising the NRM government for improving the economy. “In the 1970s, Uganda’s economy was so poor. We used to line up for small basic needs like sugar, salt and soap, but today, even the poor can access such needs. However, the NRM government has had a high rate of corruption among its leaders which has affected the country’s developments”.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Goan indicated the achievements of the NRM government in its 28years of power. “The NRM government has been able to train and build a national and disciplined army, increasing the tax base from 1.5 billion as it was in 1986 to 7000 billion, reducing the poverty levels from 63% as it was in 1986 to 21%, forming rule of law and making better service delivery to the local citizens”.

The Live Radio  discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto.

Mentors use radio to help local citizens engage with their leaders for improved service delivery

ToroDev has been highly involved in building the capacities of radio journalists for improved public accountability broadcasting because of its importance in enabling the local citizens access and share information for improved service delivery monitoring and improving accountability. Mentors trained by ToroDev have highly been involved in mobilizing the local citizens to engage their local leaders for improved service delivery through virtual platforms in form of talk shows and rural radio debates.

Radio programs hosted by mentors have empowered local citizens with information and knowledge to demand public accountability and democratic engagement processes in the Rwenzori Region districts. “We have used radio programs as a plat form to bring marginalized population groups (women and youths) lobby for improved and timely public service delivery from their political and local leaders, and the civil society”, said Lubega Elly, a Mentor at Kyenjojo FM in Kyenjojo District.

Rwenzori journalists during a mentorship training with ToroDev

Mentors have also created a platform for both local and political leaders to give accountability to the local citizens who are the primary consumers of the public services. “During the demonstration by the local people in Kicwamba Sub County against the poor roads that were destroyed  by the heavy trucks that carry pozzolana, the District Officers of Kabarole came out and gave accountability on how they spend money obtained from the mineral”, said Tusiime Francis, a mentor at Voice of Toro In Kabarole District.

Meanwhile, mentors have also gone ahead to use rural radio debates as a way of getting evidence based information from reliable sources especially on issues regarding accountability and service delivery. “I have conducted rural radio debates in places like Rwentuha and Kakabara Sub Counties in Kyegegwa District, Bufunjo and Katooke Sub Counties in Kyenjojo District and Kiguma Parish in Kabarole District. This has helped me to broadcast proper researched information through getting ground information and voices of people out crying for better services”, said Mukonyezi Wilfred, a mentor at Better FM in Kabarole District and also a moderator of the Listeners’ Forum, a radio program that is sponsored by ToroDev.

ICT tools especially the use of FM radios has also helped mentors to bridge the gap between local leaders and the local people and also citizen participation in governance. “As mentors, we have used FM radio to bridge the gap between leaders and the local people through hosting local leaders on talk shows to give accountability and allowing local listeners to call in and raise their issues and concerns”, said Tumwine Haward, a mentor at UBC Radio in Bundibugyo District.

However, there is need for more support for mentors to continuously keep engaging local leaders and also share information regarding accountability in the media through providing them with transport facilitation to reach out the community and pick people’s issues, recording gadgets like cameras and recorders, and also computers for information sharing and evidence based information.

“NRM has celebrated 29 years in power, but has her government achieved the people’s welfare?” John Kasweta.

On 26^th January 2014, Mr. John Kasweta, the coordinator of Committed Citizens Forum for Better Services in Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole District discussed the NRM’s (National Resistance Movement) celebration of 29 years and whether her government had delivered better services to the local citizens. “The Uganda constitution states that a national census should be carried out every after 10 years, but since 2001, we have never had a census. This raises the question of how the government plans or budgets for Ugandans whose number is unknown. This has caused lack of enough medicine and under staffing in health centers, lack of proper budgeting and planning, among others”. 

Mr. Kasweta said this during the ‘Listeners Forum’ on Better FM, a 2hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (08:00-10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev. The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Yahaya Abubakari, a local citizen of Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko District and Mr. Tibeha John Bosco, the General Secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County Kyenjojo District.

His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda

During the program, Mr. Yahaya indicated how radio programs had helped local citizens to lobby for better services from their leaders. “Radio programs have helped us to seek our local leader’s intervention and also lobby for better services. Our roads have been worked on such as Kicwamba-Kyabandara road, Karugutu HC IV road, Late Ndahura road, among others”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tibeha indicated the high rate of corruption in the Health Assistant’s office of Bufunjo Sub County. “Bufunjo Sub County received 152(one hundred and fifty two) bicycles from the ministry to help VHTs(Village Health Teams) run their activities. However, the Sub County health assistant made a private meeting with the coordinators in which they agreed to impose a charge of Shs.30,000 on each VHT(Village Health Team) member who was going to receive the bicycle. As a forum, we informed the concerned leaders who are helping us to follow up the issue”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussions through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Our roads are so poor”, said Mwesige from Kibiito Town Council, “Corruption is so high in Kinyantale Police”, said Edward from Kyenjojo District, “Myeri –Busanga road was constructed badly”, said Kyamukama from Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District, “All our services like schools, health centers, roads and water are in a poor state”, said Mpagi Saidi from Mwenge North in Kyenjojo District.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred.

Analyzing government planning and budgeting in eradicating malaria in Uganda.

“There are people who are prone to malaria parasites. However, malaria is highly killing young children, pregnant mothers and even causing abortions among pregnant women. Government is releasing billions of money to prevent malaria through installing enough drugs in hospitals, setting up health centers at sub county level and parish level, and giving out mosquito nets”, said Joshua Kagaba, District Councilor in Kabarole District.

Mr. Kagaba highlighted this on 18^th January 2014 during the ‘Orukurato Program’ a 2hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00-10:00pm) on HITS FM that is sponsored by ToroDev.

Use of mosquito nets to prevent malaria

During the program, Mr. Kagaba also went ahead to  indicate how the Ugandan government had supplied mosquito nets all over the country to different households as a way of formulating measures to fight malaria. “In Kabarole District, we registered 556106(five hundred fifty six thousand, one hundred and six) people who received nets, 128732(one hundred twenty eight thousand, seven hundred and thirty two) were children, 13860(thirteen thousand, eight hundred and sixty) were pregnant women. This number will also help us to plan as a district”.

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Kwezi Edward a local citizen from Kiko Town Council in Ruteete Sub County, Kabarole District who highlighted the challenges faced during the exercise of giving out mosquito nets. “The nets were short, sensitization to the local citizens about the use of the nets was not done, and there was also improper distribution of the nets since other homes did not get”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kagaba appealed to the local leaders and citizens to embrace malaria prevention measures. “I appeal to local leaders and citizens to practice malaria prevention measures such as clearing bushes, closing windows early evening, clearing potholes filled with stagnant water around homes and sleeping under mosquito nets. We should also stop being political by criticizing every achievement made by the government ,but rather encourage sensitization”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Government should have provided immunization vaccines rather than supplying mosquito nets”, said Nyangoma from Kabale, “Mosquito nets are good but people have not been sensitized about them”, said a caller from Mpara, “Doesn’t the medicine in the nets have any effect to the people”, asked Lubega from Mbarara.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto.