ToroDev Monitoring & Evaluation team tracks the impact of Advocacy Forums

In April 2014, ToroDev M&E team held a monitoring and Evaluation activity to track the impact of the Advocacy Forums and rural monitors in monitoring service delivery and demanding accountability from the local leaders in the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko. The activity acted as a way of motivating, encouraging, strengthening and empowering the Advocacy forums and rural monitors, and assisting the project team to study and know the activity plans, needs, challenges, achievements, changes and future plans of the advocacy forums and the one hundred and twenty (120) rural monitors. 

Members of Kasese Youths and Women’s Forum

During the activity, ToroDev M&E team found out that women and youths are now finding it more interesting and benefiting to join advocacy forums so as to work hand in hand with their local and political leaders in an organized way. “We joined the forum to fight for the rights of women in Kasese District and the entire Rwenzori Region because despite great strides made by the international women’s rights movement over many years, women and girls in Kasese and Uganda are still exposed to marriage at an early age and trafficked into forced labour and sex slavery. Women are denied education and participation in politics. Around the villages in Kasese District, deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth is needlessly high, and women are denied the right to make deeply personal choices in their private lives. As a way of advocating for our rights, we joined Kasese Youths and Women’s Forum”, said Masika Flavia, the Chairperson of Kasese Youths and Women’s Forum.

During the activity, ToroDev M&E team also found out that advocacy forums have continued to hold accountability meetings with their local leaders. “As forum members, we meet three times a month so as to handle people’s issues. During the meetings, we also discuss how to present our issues to leaders or on radio and we also first hold an internal meeting before calling for a bigger meeting with leaders”, said Tibenda Steven, the secretary of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District. 

Members of Kicwamba Forum for Development & Service Delivery

Forum members have also endeavored to open up offices with monthly financial support from ToroDev so as to make their work easier. “We opened up an office in February 2014 after we had got the monthly support from ToroDev and this has helped us to do our work in an organized way. This has also helped us to be recognized by the local people who easily access us and raise their community issues/concerns. The office has also helped us to have a place for both internal and public accountability meetings”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery.

“Our offices are open five days a week with an office attendant to attend to people’s issues. Local people no longer go to the LCI chairpersons but they approach us to help them talk to these leaders. This has helped in improving services, respecting human rights, freedom of speech and expression and demanding for accountability and better services”, said Tibeeha John Bosco, the secretary for Bufunju People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

Meanwhile, ToroDev team also realized that services have been improved due to the efforts of the advocacy forums and radio talk shows. “Our Advocacy forum has acted as an eye opener for the local citizens through sensitizing them about information access and encouraging them to listen to radio accountability talk shows and also demanding accountability from the local leaders. Through our monitoring activities, we advocated for Butiiti Health Center III to get a latrine”, said Jane the Chairperson of Youths and Women advocacy Forum in Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

However, there is need for more financial support to enable the rural monitors move widely to monitor service delivery. There is also need to encourage and motivate them through trainings especially in using appropriate ICT tools for governance and improving their participation on the live radio discussions. Rural monitors also need more equipment like laptops, photo cameras and recorders to ensure a coordinated and persistent monitoring of service delivery.

“Radio programs have bridged the gap between leaders and local citizens”, Mukwano Ssenyonjo.

On 27^th April 2014, the Chairperson of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District indicated how radio programs had created a big impact in bridging the gap between leaders and the local citizens. “Radio programs have helped the local grass root people to demand for better services and also raise their issues to their local leaders. Rural radio debates have also given chance to women to participate in governance and also empowered them to approach their leaders for better services. Local leaders are now providing better services because of being monitored and fear of being exposed on radio”. The local citizen was discussing on ToroDev’s supported radio discussion on Better FM called the ‘Listeners Forum’ a 2hr radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (8:00-10:00pm).

Members of People's Rights and Forum for Development

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Tibeeha John Bosco, the secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District, and Mr. Namara Vincent, the Councilor of Kabende Parish in Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole District. 

During the program, Mr. Tibeeha discussed how radio programs had caused a great impact in delivering better services to the people of Bufunjo Sub County. “We have realized great achievements in our service delivery due to the use of radio programs. Such achievements include the construction of Kahompo bridge, raising people’s demands and issues to the leaders for intervention, raising people’s priority needs to the concerned leaders, fighting corruption through exposing the corrupt leaders on radio, among others”.

Mr. Namara also participated in the live radio discussion by highlighting the benefits that the radio programs have brought to the local citizens of Kabende Parish. “Radio programs have sensitized the local people about the use of monitoring service delivery, putting checks and balance among the local leaders’ performances, helping leaders to know people’s issues and demands, sensitizing local people about government programs, among others”. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Tibeeha indicated the challenges that are still affecting proper service delivery in Bufunjo Sub County. “Some leaders are subjective and not objective, they work to fulfill their own mutual interest rather than representing people’s interests, most local people are not sensitized and they therefore fear to demand for better services from their local leaders, poor delivery of services, among others”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Radio programs have strengthened people to demand for better services from their leaders”, said Kusemererwa from Kabende Parish, “We thank local citizens who have sacrificed to demand for better services from the leaders”, said Ndyahebwa from Kabende Parish, “Who is in charge of the NAADS program in our parish?”, asked Kasamaki from Kabende Parish, “Most leaders under look local citizens”, said Kato from Kabende Parish.

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

“We have only one health center which is also privately owned”, Mugisa Erisha

On 15^th April 2014, the king of the Banyabindi,  His Majesty Mugisa Elisha Atenyi showed his  outcry over the poor service delivery among his subjects in Munkunyu Sub County, Kasese District. “We have only one health center which is also privately owned and some people cannot manage the charges. Pregnant women have to walk long distances to access government health centers and sometimes give birth on the way which has caused many deaths. Pupils in lower classes are taught in the English language which they don’t understand which has caused poor grades, even those who perform well are not considered for bursary schemes neither at the district nor national level. Our water is also very poor and dirty. The government should strengthen water board committees and also provide water harvesting tanks in schools to help in the dry season. Our roads are poor such as Kinyamaseke-Katwe road, Mukunyu road, Nyakiyungu road, among others”.

Rutakirwa Ivan Bwebale, Basongora Cultural leader

His Majesty’s issues were run on Better FM radio on 20^th April 2014 during the ‘Listeners Forum’ 08:00-10:00pm for the local leaders intervention. The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Kasamaki Tomas, Mr. Ndyahwerwa Degratius and Mr. Tumusiime Justus, all local citizens of Kabende Parish in Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole District.

During the program, Mr. Ndyahwerwa raised the issue of corruption among the local leaders of Hakibaale Sub County. “Our Chairperson LC III of Hakibaale Sub County Hon Edson Businge grabbed UNRA (Uganda National Roads Authority) land in Kabende parish with no legal documents/title. We therefore appeal to other concerned local leaders at the district to intervene and save the situation. The maternity ward at Kabende Health Center III was also run for few months and closed and as we talk, there is no mid wife at the health center. The solar energy that was meant for the maternity ward was also diverted to the staff quarters”. 

Mr. Justus also participated in the radio discussion by indicating the incompetence in the NAADS program. “The Chairperson LC III Mr. Businge Edson has turned the NAADS program political by giving equipment to people who are only in leadership and not following the proper procedures. The Chairperson has also gone ahead to beat local citizens who demand for better services in the NAADS sector. Roads leading to Kabende Parish are also in a sorry state and impassable during the rainy season, hindering farmers from marketing their produce”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kasamaki raised the issue of conflict between teachers at Kabende Primary School that has caused the poor performance of pupils. “At Kabende Primary School, some teachers are not working yet they are on government pay role. This came as a result of conflicting interests between the teachers. We have tried to report the issue to the District Education Officer of Kabarole but his intervention has been in vain”.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred.

“A country’s success depends on the way it is run and organized”, Kiiza Besigye.

On 13^th April 2014, leaders of Forum for Democratic Change party appeared on Better FM to discuss the electoral reforms and how Uganda can have a free and fair election. “A country’s success depends on the way it is organized. Ever since Uganda received her independence, no leader has ever left power peacefully. All leaders have left or taken over power through the help of a gun which causes destruction to the achieved developments, using the gun rule system, and using power to seek mutual interests at the cost of local citizens”, said Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye, the former president of the FDC Party. The panelist was discussing on ToroDev’s supported “Listeners Forum’, a 2hr weekly live radio discussion that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (08:00-10:00pm).

Col. Besigye, former leader of Forum for Democratic Change

Dr. Besigye went ahead to indicate how the National Resistance Movement has failed to create balance of power among Ugandans. “All power in the country is lying under the gun system. This is why we see the NRM party being the government, state and parliament. The effect of the gun system has also caused poor practices like wide spread corruption, imbalance in the election process and all leaders working under President Museveni’s orders. Local citizens should therefore stop fearing and bring back power from the gun system to themselves and also come together so as to achieve better leadership”.

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mrs. Ingrid Turinawe, the leader of women in the FDC party, Mr. Mwizukye Francis, a member of the National Executive Council in the FDC party and Lawyer Musana, the Chairman of the FDC party in Kabarole District.

During the program, Mr. Mwizukye blamed the youths for not participating in developmental programs. “Many youths are always driven to attend things that cannot develop or liberate this country like soccer, watching comedies and music shows, among others instead of participating in developmental programs like public debates/meetings where people’s issues and demands are discussed”.

Meanwhile, other panelists highlighted the consequences of not having a free and fair election. “Without a free and fair election, Uganda shall not have democracy, development, and respect for leaders”, said Lawyer Musana, “Ugandans will never get a leader of their choice, remain stranded in the evils of corruption, dictatorship, and undeveloped if they don’t come together to make a national convention to carry out a balanced election”, said Ingrid.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “We have got issues of poor service delivery with the government”, said Amura from Kamwenge District, “The opposition should put in more efforts to bring change in this country”, said Jasper from Kyarusozi Sub County in Kyenjojo District, “The electoral commission is side lining with the NRM party”, said Kusemererwa John, “The electoral commission should not be chosen by the president but by the people”, said Dennis.

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

Leaders of Kabarole Boda Boda Association give accountability

On 5^th April 2014, leaders of Kabarole Boda Boda Association, an association of motorcyclists in Kabarole District appeared on Better FM to give accountability of the activities they have been carrying out ever since they entered office. “Every member of Kabarole Boda Boda Association pays a monthly fee of Shs.1000 (one thousand shillings) that we use to run the office and help fellow boda boda men who have incurred problems like accidents”, said Rwabweru William, the Chairman of the Association.  This was during ToroDev’s supported radio discussion on Better FM called the ‘Listeners Forum’ a 2hr radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (8:00-10:00pm).

Tourists use boda bodas in Mbarara District

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Barongo Musa, the leader in charge of defense affairs in the association, Mr. Ayesiga Muzamiru, the general secretary of the association and Mr. Baranga Emmanuel, the leader in charge of traffic affairs in the association.

During the radio program, Mr. Baranga discussed how the association was trying to implement the project of introducing identity cards to all motorcyclists. “We have started issuing operation cards to all boda boda riders for easy identification. We also want to issue driving permits so as to easily curb crimes like overloading, over speeding and missing number plates. We are also carrying out sensitization among all boda boda riders on proper usage of the road through reading of the road sign posts”. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Muzamiru also participated in the live radio discussion by appealing to all boda boda riders to be security conscious. “I appeal to all boda boda riders to be security conscious most especially those who ride at night. We should avoid riding strange people to strange places and look at our lives more important than the money that we earn. This will help us to avoid risks like theft and murder”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins and using the SMS platform to raise their issues and concerns. “Some boda boda riders are thieves, they take people and steal their property most especially in the nights”, said Ajuna, “Operation cards should be given to cyclists who are above eighteen years”, said Moses Kasoke from Butiiti Sub County in Kyenjojo District, “Leaders should first deal with boda boda riders who give motor cycles to school children to ride”, said Kassim, “Many boda boda riders are not trust worthy”, said Mbaga Saidi from Kamwenge District, “Before giving out operation cards, leaders should first identify disciplined boda boda riders and rule out indisciplined riders”, said Robert from Kijura Sub County in Kyenjojo District.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred.