Citizens continued advocacy yields to extension of gravity water scheme to Mugusu Subcounty, Kabarole District.

A delegation of 17 people from Mweri village Kyezire parish Mugusu Sub County in Kabarole district on 13th/April/2015 held another meeting with LCV Kabarole district, Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard to demand for a 5km gravity water scheme extension to the village of Myeri.

The delegation was led by the chairperson People’s Rights & Forum for Development, forum based in Mugusu Sub County & supported by ToroDev, Mr. Senyonjo Mukwano, among the team was sub county district councilor Hon. Mugabo Clovice, Mugusu sub county chairperson Hon. Waako Christopher, woman councilor for Kyezire parish Hon. Kajobe Florence Good  ToroDev' communication and documentation officer Mr. Kugonza David among others.

“As members of Rights & Forum for Development, forum based in Mugusu sub county with support from ToroDev in 2013 we presented a similar petition to the district chairperson  lobbying for  water extension in Magunga village, we followed up the progress and we are happy that water was  finally extended to Magunga village due to our intervention. As a forum we encourage, motivate and mentor other people to present their petitions to leaders in an organized form in order to have positive results, our leaders act when they see a big organized number of people than presenting petitions individually”. Said Mr.Senyonjo Mukwano the leader of Rights & Forum for Development, forum.

“I take this privilege to welcome the concerned citizens and leaders from Mugusu sub county and I thank the district chairperson for accepting to listen to our outcry. We are here to lobby   for improved services in water sector, health, road, education and other services’’. Said Mr. Good Christopher.Chairperson LC1 Mweri village.

“Mweri was not accessible, the roads were impassable and they had so many potholes but through the help of the district chairperson Myeri road was constructed, people now can move freely without any hindrance whether in rainy season or dry season”.Said Hon. WaakoChristopher who is the sub county chairperson indicated that

“The water construction & extension services were in the district work plan but I request the district chairman to talk more about the issue of water. Honorable speaker requested responsiblecitizens to always involve themselves in advocating and lobbying for improved services in an organized and peaceful way like what Mugusu people are doing this will always produce positive results”. Said Hon. MugaboClovice the district councilor for Mugusu Sub County and the district speaker Kabarole district.

During the meeting the district chairperson for Kabarole, Hon. Richard Rwabuhinga welcomed the delegation. He acknowledged receiving the petition from Mweri delegation on Thursday 9th April 2015 in his office. ‘’I understand you have reported many problems that Myeri village is facing but i will first single out water problem which needs immediate intervention. As a district, we shall extend 1.5km to Kijongo village & 2 kilometers to Mweri village, the water extension will be done in the next financial budget/year (2015-2016) that begins in July 2015 water will be extended to the two villages without fail". Said Hon. Richard Rwabuhinga the district chairperson for Kabarole.

The Chairperson LC V Kabarole responding to the petition presented by the local citizen

“We are closely working with every local and political leaders so that we can have improved service delivered in all sectors not only in water sector but also in education, health, agriculture and roads, we shall be presenting other petitions to other leaders lobbying for improved education, health, roads etc  in Mugusu Sub county, but now we thank everyone for sparing his or her time to come and we work for our community, when we keep doing this we shall see a big change in service delivery”.  Said Mr.Kibonge K. Sam the Publicity People’s Rights & Forum for Development, forum based in Mugusu Sub County.

The above advocacy work has been made possible by ToroDev’s facilitated Citizens’ Advocacy forum in Mugusu Sub-County, Kabarole District. This account demonstrates the strength of and relevance of organized citizens’ groups in the community. Currently, ToroDev has supported the initiation of 15 groups spread with the 7 districts of the Rwenzori sub-region, Western Uganda. This was been achieved through funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), SPIDER, National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and many other partner.