Advocacy forums continue to work with local citizens to monitor service delivery

Advocacy forums have continued to work with the local citizens in monitoring service delivery so as to realize and lobby for better service delivery from the local leaders.  The advocacy forums were formed by the 120 rural monitors who were trained by ToroDev in online advocacy, monitoring service delivery using on line social media/ICT tools like Ushahidi platform for on line documentation, visualization and mapping. Rural monitors also use FM Radio Broadcasting as an ICT tool for convergence since it is the most accessed media channel in the Rwenzori Region. 

Advocacy Forum leaders receive training in policy advocacy at ToroDev

Rural monitors of Bufunjo Sub County in Kyenjojo District have followed up the issue the corrupt Sub County Health Assistant. “On 20^th January 2014, the ministry of Health issued 152 bicycles to Bufunjo Sub County, to help the VHTs(Voluntary Health Teams) in performing their work. However, the Health Assistant in collaboration with the coordinators levied Shs.30,000 for each bicycle in pretense of using the money to clear off bills of the bicycles’ security. We as Bufunjo People’s Forum and other concerned local leaders, we intervened and halted the exercise, rescuing over Shs. 4,560,000 that was going to be swindled by one person in just hours”, said Tibeeha JohnBosco, the secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

Rural monitors of Mugusu Sub County in Kabarole District have also gone ahead to lobby for better water in their Sub County. “On 22^nd April 2013, rural monitors in conjunction with the local citizens of Magunga Village wrote a petition to the District LC IV Chair Person requesting for the extension of gravity water flow scheme for at least 7km to cover the population of 1011 from 250 households, 900 pupils and 18 teachers of Magunga Primary School and 112 people of Magunga COU who were surviving on three un protected springs. On 7^th February 2014, the District Water Engineer visited Magunga village to decide where to construct the Tap stands and also to inform the local people about the contractor and the nature of the Bill of Quantities and as we talk, construction has started and about 1.5km has been worked on”, said Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairperson of People’s Rights and Forum for Development.

Meanwhile, rural monitors of Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District are also following up the issue of the disqualified Primary Leaving Examinations of Harugongo Primary School. “Pupils of Harugongo Primary School sat for their Primary Leaving Examinations under the super vision of the Education Commissioner Mr. Fagil Monday. However to our surprise, their results were not released with accusations of being involved in malpractice. We feel that there must be politics under lying this fate and as rural monitors, we are following up the issue with the concerned local leaders to rescue the situation”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery.

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