Development Partners and Kabarole District Forum 3rd Cordination meeting yields results

The Deputy District Resident Commissioner (D/RDC) Kabarole Mrs Rose Monday Byabasaija said development partners need to work together with the district local governments where they operate from instead of working in isolation. She said this while officially closing a half day coordination meeting of CSO’s & Kabarole district local government at the district council hall Kitumba in Fort Portal on 5^th April 2016. Mrs Byabasaija further recognized the lack of functionality in lower health centers of the district which has led to congestion in referral hospital and also absenteeism of health workers at these lower health centers. She urged CSO’s to always consult the district local governments during the process of implementing their services in the district.

The Deputy RDC Kabarole Mrs Rose Monday Byabasaija officially closing the ToroDev supported meeting

The coordination meetings are conducted quarterly aimed at championing public accountability, transparency & improved service delivery through planning together, budgeting together, accounting together, sharing of successes and challenges, enjoying shared & coordinated reporting on a regular basis. The meeting was attended by the district chairperson , ACAO, all heads of departments, all community development officers of Kabarole district, CSO’s & representatives, members of the district executive committee & ToroDev partners from Swedish International Development Agency ( SIDA) and ICT4DEM , aimed at assessing the impact of the last meeting  & developing a harmonized approach towards improving coordination & communication among CSO’s and the local government by strengthening PPP and brainstorming on the challenges of fostering collaboration in the district as experienced by both parties.

Participants listening to presentations during the meeting

Hon. Richard Rwabuhinga the district chairperson while officially opening the meeting urged participants to embrace such meetings where we engage each other on development issues and appealed to CSO’s who have not yet reviewed partnership with the district to take it serious for through that we avoid duplication of services, plan together & account together to improve service delivery for the populace in the district. He said the district 5 years development plan was ready to be shared with CSO’s in this particular meeting before inviting people to be peaceful especially in this post election period.

Hon. Richard Rwabuhinga the LCV Kabarole giving his opening remarks during the meeting

The Executive director ToroDev, Mr. Baguma Johnstone Kumaraki while presenting the role of social media (on-line platforms) in improving public accountability and service delivery during the meeting said e-participation surveys and linkages can help in guiding policy decisions which in the long run improves public service delivery. He said we need to utilize such meetings to forge ways on how to handle service delivery issues that affect us in our communities.

Mr. Baguma Johnstone Kumaraki the ED ToroDev Presenting the role of  social media during the meeting

The District Education Officer (DEO) Mr. Rwakaikara Patrick noted that lack of lunch for our children in schools was still a big issue in the district for it does not only fail learning to take place but also leads to children missing school, school dropouts and the result is poor performance in schools. He said some parents have not done their responsibilities right hence shifting some to government. Mr. Rwakaikara identified the need for improved sanitation in schools, inactive school management committees, limited funding for school inspections, & weak administration by some head teachers and lack of basic scholastic material especially on the side of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC’s).

The DEO Kabarole Mr. Rwakaikara Patrick discussing the status of Education in the district

The Assistant District Health Officer (ADHO) Mrs Manimake Elizabeth who represented the District Health Officer (DHO) showed it  that local governments have restricted budgets which limit the supply of drugs in the district especially where the district has to purchase drugs for her populace with her own budget. She urged CSO’s to lobby for more funds to improve the state of the health sector in the district.

The deputy DHO Kabarole Mrs. Maanimake Elizabeth talking about the status of the Health sector in the district

During the meeting there was time for open discussion and question & answer sessions. Also actions plans were drawn whose engagements will be fed in the next coordination meeting due July 2016.

We are grateful to our partners; NED, SIDA, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, Kabarole District Local Government for the financial & technical support.