Integration of the East African Community

On 26^th July 2014, panelists appeared on HITS FM to discuss the integration of the East African Community. “Integration means different countries coming together to form one community/country. The integration of the East African Community will include countries like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Other countries like Congo and South Sudan are also in the process of joining the East African integration”, said Mitsera Kasukali, the Executive Director of CABS (Community Agro Business Capacity Services) in Kabarole District. The panelist was discussing on ToroDev’s supported live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a 2hr weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00) pm. 

Leaders of the East African Community member countries

During the discussion, Mr. Kasukali went ahead to indicate the aim of the integration. “The East African integration started in 1999 with an aim of widening and deepening the cooperation of the member countries. There are four chapters that will form the integration which include customs union; removing boundaries of the countries, common markets; member countries will have rights of employment and residence, monetary union; getting a single currency and political federation; getting one president”. 

The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon Businge Prosper, the LCV Councilor of West Division in Fort Portal Municipality, Kabarole District, who highlighted the reasons why the past federation collapsed. “The past federation collapsed because there were political differences, disagreements in sharing the benefits, greedy leaders who were looking for wealth and power and also failure to sensitize the local citizens about the integration.  All member countries should therefore avoid these challenges by harmonizing presidential term limits and also be willing to integrate”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins and using the SMS plat form to raise their issues and concerns. “Service delivery in Uganda is being affected by the high levels of corruption”, said Mubangizi from Mbarara District, “Uganda is so corrupt to join the East African integration”, said Ategeka from Kabarole District, “Local citizens need to be sensitized about the integration before it takes place”, said a caller from Mbarara District.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

  

  

“Modern education was not born in Africa”, Kenneth Bajenja

On 19^th July 2014, Mr. Kenneth Bajenja, a local citizen of Hakibaale Sub County in Kabarole District indicated how the present modern education was not born in Africa. “Modern education was not born in Africa, it was introduced by colonialists through the Christian Missionaries in 1877. Uganda was under colonial dictatorship from 1894 – 1962, and it was during this time that modern education was introduced, which was modeled to fit in the interests of the colonialists”. The local citizen was discussing on ToroDev’s supported live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a two hour weekly program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00) pm on HITS FM.

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mss Basemera Nesta  a senior teacher, Mr. Businge John, a lecturer, and Mr. Rwamuhumbu Davis, all from Kabarole District. 

 

Jessica Alupo, Uganda's Minister of Education & Sports

During the program, Mr. Davis highlighted the major issues under the education sector. “The education sector has three major issues which include school drop outs at primary level, secondary level and university level. Basing on the UNESCO Research 2013, 71% of Ugandan children don’t finish primary level of which 65% are girls. This has highly been caused by the poor culture and the poor education system that is aided by the government”.

Mr. Businge also participated in the live radio discussion by indicating how lack of funds has highly caused school dropout. “The main issue causing school dropout is lack of school fees. The education system is so expensive most especially at university level yet both parents and the government have no funds. There are also other activities like child labour, betting, peer pressure and gambling activities that are causing school drop outs”.

Meanwhile, Mss Basemera indicated how the poor attitude towards education by the local citizens is also affecting the education sector. “Local citizens are passive learners and their attitude towards learning is very low. That is why they fail to even incur a few school related costs like books, pens, uniforms, among others for their children. The International Research Committee’s report 2013 shows that 52% of school dropout in Northern Uganda is caused by school related costs. People therefore need to be motivated through sensitizing them on the use of education”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins and using the SMS plat form to raise their issues and concerns. “Many dilapidated schools in villages are affecting the education system. These schools are mainly holding children of the poor”, said Kyomuhendo from Fort Portal Municipality, “The government system itself is letting the education system down. Nyakatoma Primary School in Kyenjojo District has only two teachers yet with seven classes”, said Kaija Pasco, “Lack of funds and child labour are the most issues causing school drop outs”, said Kasaija Adolf, “Government aided schools have ruined education because of their poor performance”, said Bright.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. 

“What has your leader delivered ever since he/she entered office”, Kasigazi Willy Donanto.

On 12^th July 2014, Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto cautioned local citizens on what local leaders have delivered for them ever since they voted them into the offices they hold.  “What have your leaders delivered ever since they entered the offices they hold? As local citizens, you should know that it’s your responsibility to monitor these leaders and also demand for better service delivery from them. You should also be able to tell whether these leaders are effective or they are just dormant in the positions that they hold in public offices”. Mr. Kasigazi is the moderator of the ‘Orukurato Program’ a two hour weekly live radio discussion sponsored by ToroDev that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday 08:00 – 10:00pm on HITS FM.

A parliamentary session

The discussion attracted many call ins from the local listeners who indicated/highlighted their issues and concerns about their local leaders. “Leaders have not delivered much for the local citizens”, said Akora from Kasunganyanja Trading Center in Kabarole District, “Leaders have not done much in delivering better roads”, said Denis from Mbarara District, “The Chairperson LC 1s have not done anything, they no longer even organize communities as it used to be”, said Nyanzi from Hakibaale Sub County in Kabarole District, “Local citizens are also lazy. They want the government to do each and everything for them. They would be organizing themselves to work on community roads rather than blaming local leaders”, said a caller from Kacwampale. 

Meanwhile, the live radio discussion became more interesting and attracted more call ins and text messages from the local listeners concerning their local leaders. “We don’t have safe water in my area”, said Fred from Hapuuyo Sub County in Kyegegwa  District, “I carry the blame on the Members of Parliament who passed the heavy budget most especially on farmers whose markets have even fallen”, said Robert Nyakairu, “Leaders are avoiding local citizens, they are even avoiding and denying their responsibilities”, said Enock from Kasenda Sub County in Kabarole District, “After getting votes, leaders don’t come back on ground to pick people’s issues”, said Byaruhanga Charles from Mpara Sub County in Kyegegwa District.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.  

“We lack a health center in Butungama Sub County”, Bob Mugisa.

On 6^th July 2014, local citizens appeared on BETTER FM to discuss the state of service delivery in their sub counties. “Butungama Sub County lacks a health center. Local citizens have to walk as far as Rwebisengo Health Center IV to get health services. Even the roads are very poor and impassable during the rainy season, yet our leaders have not come up to lobby and improve the services”, said Bob Mugisa, a local citizen of Butungama Sub County in Ntoroko District, during the ‘Listeners Forum’, a 2hr weekly live radio discussion supported by ToroDev that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00) pm.

Yoweri. K. Museveni, President of Uganda

Mr. Bob also went ahead to indicate other challenges that are being faced in Butungama Sub County. “Schools in Butungama have no staff quarters yet the Sub County is a hard to reach area. This makes teachers move long distances to access the schools, which later affects their efficiency at work, leading to the poor performance of their pupils. We also lack a secondary school in Butungama, all primary school leavers have to walk long distances to access secondary schools that are in different Sub Counties”.

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Asiimwe Julius, a local citizen from Kyabaranga Sub County in Kyenjojo District and Mr. Silver Kamihanda, a local citizen of Kabarole District.

 Mr. Asiimwe participated in the live radio discussion by highlighting the wide spread unemployment among the youth. “There is a lot of un employment among the youths, which has been caused by government negligence. The government has not included youths in developmental programs, even those that have been introduced are full of bias and have not helped the youths. I therefore appeal to our local leaders in Kyenjojo District to play their role and lobby for the youths”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Silver called upon leaders to lobby for more money in the youths livelihood program. “I call upon leaders most especially Members of Parliament to lobby for more funds for the Youths Livelihood Program. The program should also be extended to other districts and not only operate in few districts because all youths in the country need to be catered for”.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred and is supported by NED, SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using radio and social media to improve service delivery and accountability in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.  

“What are taxes and why do we pay for them?” Businge John

On 5^th July 2014, panelists appeared on HITS FM to discuss the hiked taxes by government on local citizens. “Taxes are fees that the government collects from its citizens and their businesses to pay for expenses. The government needs taxes for support in implementing facilities like infrastructure, health, education, paying civil servants, among others”, said Businge John, a local citizen and teacher in Kasenda Sub County, Kabarole District. The local citizen was discussing on ToroDev’s supported live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a two hour weekly program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00)pm on HITS FM.

Maria Kiwanuka, Uganda's Finance Minister

The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon Richard Nyakaana, a councilor of Busoro Sub County in Kabarole District and Hon Prosper Businge, the district Councilor for West Division in Fort Portal Municipality, Kabarole District. 

During the program, Hon Nyakaana indicated the advantages of paying taxes upon the local citizens. “Paying taxes creates a population that is responsible, hard working, and disciplined. Local citizens are also motivated to work hard so as to incur the costs of taxation. However, we still have challenges of making priorities as a state. Taxation increases government income, but its allocation is very poor. Funds are being allocated to noncore activities, and that’s why we see much funds being wasted without being accounted for”.

Meanwhile, Hon Businge Prosper also participated in the live radio discussion by indicating how Uganda has a challenge of poor policy implementation. “The biggest challenge of Uganda is the poor implementation of her policies. This has highly been caused by the wide spread corruption in the government.  Over 500 billion is wasted in corruption, yet these funds are collected from the local citizens, which makes them even poorer”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “Government is exploiting local citizens by hiking taxes”, said Julius from Kagorogoro Sub County, “Where does the government expect us to get all that money to pay for taxes?” asked Fred from Ibanda District, “Government passes policies for its own interests and not people’s interests”, said David, “Why did the government hike taxes on consumption goods?” asked Mwesige Tadeo from Busoro Sub County in Kabarole District, “Funds collected from taxes are not helping Ugandans, but wasted in corruption”, said Kahuma from Rwengoma Sub County in Kabarole District. 

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.