We should advocate for better health services not new cars for members of parliament

The Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson in Kabarole district Mr. Mpoza Joseph on 21^st August 2016 was hosted alongside Mr. Kiwalabye Chris, a local citizen on Jubilee radio on an issue in parliament of buying new cars for members of parliament.  

“One hundred and fifty million shillings (150m) is to be spent to purchase a single car for a member of parliament, but truthfully is a car a priority now? Asked Mr. Mpoza Joseph. He said the  money can do something else like improving services in education, health, agriculture, creating jobs for the youths, more construction of roads,etc, he said it is unfair for members of parliament to get such sums of money yet our health facilities still luck key machines which are not too expensive even.

 Joseph added that, we have seen how the health sector is sinking when you take a look at our health centers in the country for example Nakaseke hospital has no X-ray and this has been on-going for the last 4 years yet they require only  four million shillings (4m) to repair the x-ray machine and save lives of citizens. Let the money be used to improve the health sector in the country.

The weekly discussion program of Sundays 8:00pm-10:00pm on Jubilee radio was joined by Mr. Kiwalabye Kulaisi, a local citizen who said; ‘’The problem in the country is that we elect leaders who are not ready to serve the citizens and just aim at making themselves rich instead of advocating for improved services in communities. Why can’t the cars they bought for members of the 9^th parliament serve the purpose after all some members lost in the recent concluded elections, why can’t they return the cars to save on the planned expenditure to the government?’’ Said Mr. Kiwalabye Kulaisi.

Kulaisi added that most roads that were constructed and those being constructed in Uganda today are funded by big loans borrowed from different banks, how then the government can secure those big sums of money to buy new cars for members of parliament. Let members of parliament use their own money to buy the cars they want because they earn a lot of money.

 During the 2 hours discussion listeners were given time to participate through call- ins and Sms, about 30 people called in and 15 sent sms; “Members of parliament should be given medium cars which consume less fuel other than those proposed posh cars that are imparting on the taxpayers money and use the remaining balance to buy drugs and construct roads”. Said Hon. Muntu K. Willy a caller from Ntoroko district, ’’the Government should buy for them cheap cars and use the remaining money to buy cancer machines in our health centers in different  districts”. Said Jane Karungi, a caller from Bugaki Sub County in Kyenjojo district,  “Members of parliament should stop being greedy what they need to do is to first see the economy of the country before they request for expensive cars”, Said Mugume through SMS.

We are grateful to SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA and Jubilee radio as a partner for the financial and technical support

Media urged to sensitize people on mind set

The south division chairperson Mr. Mugisa Herbert has called upon the media through their cooperate social responsibility obligation to sensitize the populace on mindset. Mr. Mugisa said some people do not care even when they see things going wrong and they forget that they have an obligation to change the way we live, behave, think, act, etc. He said this while appearing live in the studios of KRC FM on ToroDev supported ‘’Manya omwebembezi wawe’’ program that is aired live every Wednesday 8:00pm-10:00pm.

The chairperson was hosted by Mr. Kaahwa Kansengerwa the moderator of the program to share his plans for the people of South division in the next 5 years (2016-2021). He said his council is built on Unity, teamwork & service delivery as core principle that will guide them to improve service delivery in the division.

Mr. Herbert Mugisa Chairperson South Division, Fort Portal Municipality

Mr. Mugisa said on addition to what was done in the last term of office, they will increase access to safe & clean water by constructing water sources like modern wells in Kasusu A village, Kidukuru & Kihembo, Construct Harukoto-MT road, Nyanduhi-Kasese road, Abudullaman Road & murruming pot holes to improve the road sector in the division, Construct Kiculeta market which is at the design stage now, Organize street food vendors to be professional in their work hence providing better services. Also in this term of office the chairperson promised to build South division headquarters, enter into an agreement with a tenderer to do garbage collection to improve hygiene & sanitation in the division, lighting the town using solar lights which shall be got through donations & proposal writing, Initiating a campaign to grow fruity trees in gazetted areas of the town, Sensitizing people to embrace the healthy care system in place to fight HIV/AIDS, Anti-natal care, infant mortality rate, etc, Conducting regular meetings especially with parents who have children in schools to sensitize them on their roles & responsibilities in supporting their children’s education and giving bursary to needy children in the division.

‘’Iam calling upon all people those who supported us or not to build their trust in us, be united, reconcile where there is need & work as a team as the only way to achieve our target of improved service delivery in the division’’, said Mr. Mugisa Herbert, chairperson South division Fort Portal municipality. He further requested electorates to prevail an enabling environment good enough to facilitate improved service delivery.

The two hours live discussion was joined by listeners through call- ins and Sms; ‘’we are suffering with garbage here in Nsoro village and we have not yet seen garbage collection vehicles, what plans is the chairperson having? Asked Beatrice Asaba a caller from Kasusu in South division, ‘’we have had people talking about the city, but let them tell citizens both the good and bad things that come with a city status’’, said Brandon a caller from Kicwamba in Kabarole district, ‘’ we were promised a well due to the challenges we are facing to access safe & clean water here in Kasusu B by the chairperson during campaigns but I have not had anything to do with it in his 5 years plans, can he please clarify that’’, said Asaba Joshua a caller from Kasusu.

We are grateful to all our partners for the technical & financial support.

Woman member of parliament promises to start a Girl Child Education Fund

The woman member of parliament Kabarole district Hon. Sylvia Rwabwogo has called upon leaders in the region & all people of good will to support her plans of starting a Girl Child Education Fund to help needy children. She said the foundation will provide support to both male & female children. Hon. Sylvia was in speaking live in the studios of HITS FM on ‘Orukurato” program that is aired live every Saturday 8:00pm- 10:00pm on 16^th July, 2016.

Hon. Sylvia Rwabwogo Woman Member of Parliament Kabarole District

Hon. Sylvia said, her roles as a member of parliament include but not limited to legislation, oversight role and Representation. She fulfils the above by making consultative meetings, mobilizing people and supporting government programs, monitoring local government programs to make sure they are implemented as planned and passing budgets especially on local government programs.

While appearing on ToroDev’s on-going campaign on post election processes; where all leaders in the districts of Rwenzori sub region are mobilized to share their work plans for the period 2016-2021, the woman member of parliament said her 5 years term of office will focus on; Holding occasional consultative meetings where electorates will be required to share their opinions on a number of laws being worked on in the 10^th parliament, lobbying with other leaders for increased budget of local governments, mobilizing communities to support & participate in government programs, building a strong education foundation by starting KANYAANA KA TOORO GIRL CHILD EDUCATION FUND, a project that will help raise funds for the needy, provide sanitary towels for girls especially those who fail to attend school while menstruating, fighting early pregnancies, cancer screening, immunizing against Hepatitis B to support health programs and also holding annual camps for girls to have commitments of staying in school and becoming important citizens in the country and helping them achieve their dreams among other things.

The 2 hours live discussion was joined by listeners through call-ins & Sms platforms; ‘’what plans is the member of parliament having for the youth especially those out of school?’’, asked Godwin Kitebe a caller from Rwimi in Kabarole district, ‘’School dropout rate is increasing in communities, what plans does the M.P have to curb down the ailment?’’, asked Teddy a caller from Katebwa sub county in Kabarole district.

We are grateful to all our partners SIDA, NED, SPIDER, CIPESA & ICT4DEM for the financial & technical support towards the operations of our activities as an organization.

District chairperson urges parents and guardians to support Vocational education

The Kabarole district chairperson Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard has appealed to parents and guardians to support vocational education and look at it as viable source of employment especially for the youth. The chairperson made the request while appearing on ToroDev’s supported ‘listeners Forum’ program that is aired live every Sunday 08:00pm-10:00pm on Jubilee radio on 10^th July, 2016. The chairperson while sharing his plans for the district for the next 5 years (2016-2021) said his council will do whatever it can to support vocational education for it supplements the fight to unemployment in the region.

Mr. Rwabuhinga said the last five years (2011-2016), his council built 24 schools in the district, built 5 sub county headquarters, road infrastructure improved especially in Harugongo, Kicwamba & Kasenda sub counties, constructed Kibota, Bwanika, Kidubuli, Nyabuswa, Nyamiseke & Kirere health centre 11’s and also built bigger maternity wards in Kibiito town council at 1.25 billion shillings where the district contributed 250million & another maternity ward in Bukuku subcounty at a cost of 970 million shillings which was fully funded by Baylor Uganda.

Hon. Richard Rwabuhinga, the district chairperson Kabarole

During the 2 hours discussion, Mr. Rwabuhinga in his plans for the district for 2016-2021 term of office promised that his council will; recruit more teachers & health workers, build 6 new sub county headquarters, lobby central government for SAGE funds where elderly people can be supported monthly, lobby central government under wealth creation program for timely quality & quantity seeds and breeds which can help households increase their incomes, advocate & support value addition products to help farmers increase their produce & sales, building 6 primary schools & 2 secondary schools, supporting vocational education, constructing Kasisi-Rwaihamba-Rwankenzi-Kadindimo-Kyanga road & maintenance of the existing roads, extending water sources to Kijura, Karago,Kiko town councils & other sub counties in the district, complete the construction of Kasunganyanja health centre 11 and also allocate 1 Ambulance to Iruhura health centre IV among others.

The chairperson said his council will work in partnership with the members of parliament in the region and also the district chairpersons to promote improved service delivery. He said in these 5 years looking for investors will be one of the core areas & that the district has not taken new roads due to a directive from central government where resources are not enough for new projects. ‘’We shall not accept to be diverted as long as we know that we are moving in the right direction’’, said Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard, the district chairperson Kabarole.

 The 2 hours live discussion had participation of listeners through call-inns & Sms platforms;

‘’ the chairperson while campaigning in our sub county promised to work on Kiraro-Kyagenda road & also solve the problem of congestion at Kijura health centre 11 but I have not had any of the two in his plans, is he thinking of us or he forgot us already’’, asked Beatrice Kimara a caller from Binunda, Hakibale sub county Kabarole district, ‘’the road to Kituli health centre 11 is in bad state especially while transporting sick and pregnant women there, what plan is the district chairperson having to solve the problems?’’, asked David Lubega a caller from Hakibale sub county in Kabarole district, ‘’ we people of Rwaihamba thank the district chairperson for the water extension in our area but still request to provide desks for our children who are studying while sitting in dust’’, said Jamal Muhumuza a caller from Kiremezi in Kasenda sub county Kabarole district.

We are grateful to all our partners for the financial and technical support.