Analyzing the Kyankwanzi declaration to endorse President Museveni

On 22^nd February 2014, panelists appeared on HITS FM to discuss the Kyankwanzi declaration of endorsing President Musenevi, whether the decision was in line with the national laws, policies, promoting democracy and participatory. “The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has structures that one has to go through to become a flag bearer and they include the policy organs, administrative organs, special organs, and NRM caucus. The Kyankwanzi retreat was contrary to the NRM constitution and therefor was not legally binding to the structures by endorsing that no other person should stand as flag bearer for the NRM party apart from President Museveni”, said Mr. Mashuhuko Joseph, a local citizen in Kabarole District from the NRM party.

Mr. Mashuhuko said this during the ‘Orukurato Program on HITS FM, a 2 hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00-10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev. The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Mboijana from the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change) party, Mr. Bamanyisa Patrick, a journalist in Fort Portal Town and Mr. John Byabazaire, all local citizens of Kabarole District.

NRM MPs during the February 2014 retreat at Kyankwanzi

During the program, Mr. Mboijana indicated how Uganda has been ruled under military dictatorship. “Since 1966, Uganda has been under military dictatorship. This is because no other party can go to the National Leadership Institute in  Kyankwanzi for a retreat apart from the NRM party. Even Members of Parliament who belong to the NRM party put on army uniforms and do military drills when they go to Kyankwanzi. This is against Article 208 of the Ugandan Constitution which states that the army should be under civilian authority and therefore no member of the army should be in parliament. This is however contrary to the present where we have the army in parliament”.

Mr. Bamanyisa Patrick also participated in the live radio discussion by indicating how African leaders use a lot of lies so as to overstay in power. “African leaders use a lot of lies to contradict issues so that they can over stay in power. Uganda has never got peaceful handover of power and our leaders should focus on doing this without always relying on military action”.

Meanwhile, Mr. John Byabazaire indicated the failure of the NRM government to improve livelihoods as it had promised. “NRM promised to improve the status of livelihoods but nothing much has been done. There is wide spread corruption in the country and leaders are busy fulfilling their own mutual benefits in the offices they handle. Over two billion Ugandan Shillings was spent in Kyankwanzi yet most Ugandans get one meal a day and no resolution has been formed, this portrays total exploitation and mismanagement of the tax payer’s money”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins and the program’s facebook page called ‘orukurato’ to raise their issues and concerns. “If the president keeps refusing in power, he will be provoking a threat of military action”,  said Isingoma from Kasunganyanja Trading Center, “President Museveni should retire and give chance for others to rule”, said a caller from Karago Town Council, “Ugandans should be discussing better issues of delivering the country from poverty than wasting time on political issues”, said Edward.

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

Forum leaders assess the exchange visit to ICT4Democracy East Africa partners' projects in Northern Uganda

On 16^th February 2014, forum leaders appeared on Better FM to assess the exchange visit to Women of Uganda Network(WOUGNET), Transparency International (TI) and Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) supported projects in the districts of Apac, Lira, Oyam and Gulu that was aimed at ensuring ToroDev staff and partners have a deep understanding and context of how local citizens in Northern Uganda are engaging their leaders for improved service delivery.

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. The live radio discussion was attended by Mr. Amos Karuhanga the Chairperson of Ntoroko Citizens Concern Group in Ntoroko District, Mr. Tibeha JohnBosco, the secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District and Mr. Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairperson of Peoples Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District.

ToroDev team at Transparency International, Lira District

During the program, Mr. Mukwano indicated how the local leaders in Northern Uganda are devoted to serving their people. “We were able to meet different local and political leaders at Sub County level. During my interaction with these leaders, I realized that they are patriotic and not corrupt when delivering services and that’s why Northern Uganda has better infrastructures like schools, sub county administration blocks, roads, among others”.

Mr. Amos also participated in the live radio discussion by discussing how the local leaders in Northern Uganda work hand in hand with the local citizens to realize better service delivery. “Local leaders include local citizens in governance by delivering people’s priority needs and also picking their issues and concerns. Amach Health Center IV had only 12 instead of 42 staffs who were not enough to serve the big population. Local leaders combined efforts with the local citizens and more staffs were recruited to the health center”.

Meanwhile, Mr. John Bosco indicated how leaders in Northern Uganda plan for fewer projects that can be exhausted by the available funds so that effective work is done. “Leaders in Northern Uganda use the allocated funds on fewer projects so that standard work is realized on a particular project, instead of planning for many projects and substandard work is done as it is here in Western Uganda. This is the reason why Northern Uganda has better infrasture like schools”.

Local listeners also participated in the Live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “As councilors, we don’t have enough funds, the sub county has nine parishes which makes it hard to deliver better services”, said Mwesige James, Councilor Bufunjo Sub county, “The central government allocates little funds which has affected proper service delivery”, said Mugisa Moses from Hakibaale Sub County, “How can a local citizen demand for better services yet local leaders are nowhere to be seen”, asked Noble Matahi from Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko District. 

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

Assessing the Youths Livelihood program and how it will help the youths

On 15^th February 2014, local leaders appeared on Better FM to discuss the Youths Livelihood Program and how it will help the youths to develop. “The Youths Livelihood Program was lobbied in August 2013 by the National Youths Council. This was after the failure of the Youths Venture Capital Fund Program in which youths leaders were denied access to information concerning the program”, said Basiima Ronald, the District Youths Chairperson of Kabarole District. 

Mr. Basiima discussed this during the ‘Orukurato Program’ a 2hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00-10:00)pm on HITS FM that is sponsored by ToroDev. The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Mugisa David, a senior Community Development Officer in Kabarole District and Mr. Agaba Steve, the Male Youths Councilor of Kabarole District. 

Ronald Kibuule Uganda Youth State Minister

During the discussion, Mr. Mugisa indicated the different challenges that are faced by the youths in Uganda. “Over seven million youths in Uganda are facing problems of unemployment, idleness which leads to gambling acts, high crime rates due to poverty, early parenthood, among others”.

Mr. Agaba also participated in the live radio discussion by indicating how the Youths Livelihood Program will be functioning. “The program will function with the government (local leaders) right away from village level to district level and committees will be chosen to monitor the projects. The program will also focus on skill development among the youths like brick lying, carpentry, welding, pottery, among others”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Basiima indicated how funds will be allocated during the implementation of the program. “The Youths Livelihood Program is a five year program that has been funded by 265(two hundred and sixty five) billion shillings. The funds will be divided into three components which will include youths livelihood component with 70%, skills development component with 20% and institutional development component with 10%. Money will only be given to people who are in organized groups of 10-15 members”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Will people with education courses like teaching be helped”, asked Kasozi Baptist, “We need accountability of the purchased brick making machine”, said Kasaija Adruf, “Will the funds reach village level”, asked Kahuma, “Will single individuals who already have projects like piggery be helped”, asked Steven from Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District. 

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

“Our priority is education so as to get better citizens to implement better local services”, Steven Kagwera

On 8^th February 2014, Hon Steven Kagwera the Member of Parliament for Burahya County in Kabarole District indicated how local leaders were prioritizing the education sector so as to get better citizens who can implement better local services. This was during ToroDev’s supported live radio accountability program on HITS FM called ‘Orukurato Program’  that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (8:00 – 10:00pm). “Our priority is education because we want to get better citizens who can implement better services. Progress has so far been realized in the education sector due to team work from teachers, parents, pupils and teachers. However, some schools’ results have been disqualified but we are trying with all our efforts to solve the issue with the UNEB(Uganda National Examinations Board) officials to see that these results are released”.

Fagil Monday, Chairperson of UNEB

The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon. Joshua Kagaba the District Councilor of Ruteete Sub County who thanked the different individuals for rendering efforts in realizing the good performance of the pupils. “The better performance of the schools was due to the efforts of the leaders and head teachers who sensitized the community about the use of education and contributing towards its improvement instead of leaving the whole work for the government. Other sectors like the NGOs also contributed a lot through providing scholastic materials to different schools”.

During the discussion, Hon Steven indicated some of the steps that were carried out by the local leaders to improve the performance in schools. “We made a lot of sensitization to the local community concerning education through community and PTA (Parents Teachers Association) meetings, making transfer of different head teachers to different schools and also monitoring schools”.

Meanwhile, Hon. Kagaba highlighted the way forward for maintaining the better performance of the schools. “We have to maintain the good performance of the schools through exposing those leaders who have been dormant so that they become active, addressing teachers and parents’ issues concerning their schools and sensitizing leaders, head teachers, parents and pupils in maintaining the good performance and even aiming higher”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Butiiti Demonstration did not get any pupil in first grade, we need change of a new head master”, said Basemera from Bukuuku Sub County, “What do leaders talk about the issue of promoting pupils with poor performance to the next classes in UPE(Universal Primary Education) schools?” asked William from Kakabara Sub County, “All leaders, parents and teachers should join hands to maintain this good performance”, said Tugume from Kisomoro Sub County, “I thank leaders for the good work done”, said Hassan.

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

ToroDev holds an exchange visit to ICT4Democracy East Africa partners' projects in Northern Uganda

ToroDev project staff and advocacy forum leaders from the Western Uganda districts of Kyenjojo, Kabarole and Ntoroko had an exchange visit to Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), Transparency International (TI) and Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) supported projects in the districts of Lira, Apac, Oyam and Gulu. 

 

The 5 days exchange visit (11^th – 15^th February, 2014) was aimed at improving ToroDev’s and partners approaches of using appropriate ICTs and physical platforms like rural advocacy forums to promote engagements between local citizens and leaders for improved service delivery in the seven districts of the Rwenzori region.

The exchange visit was also aimed at ensuring that ToroDev staff and partners have a deep understanding and context of how local citizens in Northern Uganda are engaging their leaders for improved essential service delivery.

 

ToroDev project team with VSACs of Loro Sub County, Oyam District

ToroDev staff and leaders of the rural advocacy forums were able to visit the projects and gain knowledge on using appropriate ICT tools and other physical platforms like meetings to engage their leaders and demand accountability for improved service delivery.

“Local leaders from Northern Uganda are working together with the local citizen advocacy groups. I’m going to change my approach to ensure that I work closely with local leaders to ensure fruitful results” Said Amos Karuhanga, Chairperson of Ntoroko Citizens Concern in Ntoroko District.

“I have learnt that VSACs and VACs are evenly represented at the Parish level, we are also going to ensure that there is equal representation at the sub county level by having a committee at every parish.” Said Tibeeha John Bosco, the Secretary General of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

“VSACs and VACs have many old people and women who participate in monitoring service delivery. We have challenges recruiting women in our rural advocacy forums, we have been motivated to put more efforts in ensuring that we have more women in our groups.” Said Mukwano Ssenyonjo of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Kabarole District.

“I was humbled by more women participation in WOUGNET Voluntary Accountability Committees; ToroDev project beneficiaries will borrow a leaf. I was also impressed by Transparency International Toll Free Line in monitoring service delivery; we (ToroDev) are finding a way to leverage on that service to strengthen our accountability monitoring using appropriate ICT tools in the Rwenzori Region. NUMEC is also doing a great job in community development broadcasting, We are going to encourage our partner Rwenzori Journalist Forum (RJF) to borrow a leaf.” Said Solomon Akugizibwe, ToroDev’s Media and Communications Officer

 “I have learnt that local citizens in Northern Uganda organized in their advocacy groups have a good relationship with the local leaders which have made lobbying and accessing information by local citizens easy, I will encourage ToroDev supported advocacy forums to have good relationship with their leaders for fruitful results.” Said Recheal Kogere, Documentation Officer at ToroDev.

Members of the local accountability committees who interacted with ToroDev staff were also able to share their challenges, “The accounting language is hard to understand when we want to access information in the accounting reports.” Said David Otim from Ibuje Sub County in Apac District.

ToroDev is grateful to TI, WOUGNET and NUMEC staff for ensuring a successful exchange visit.