ToroDev held capacity building of newly elected district councilors in Kyenjojo district

The induction/capacity building training took place at Kyenjojo district council chambers on 9^th & 10^th March, 2017 and was facilitated by a consultancy firm; local government consulting group an arm of Uganda local government Association (ULGA) based in Entebbe, Uganda. The induction training targeted all district councilors from the 20 sub counties (including town councils) of Kyenjojo district and thirty four councilors attended the 2 days training where 12 were female while 22 were male.

 David Kugonza  on behalf of Torodev while giving the objectives of the induction training said; as an organization we have held a number of meetings with the district speaker, clerk to council & some councilors to understand better the gap that exist in the work o councilors and now we are here to bridge that gap. We want to support the councilors to perform their roles well especially on their legislative roles which seem to be major in council. ‘’We desire to see politicians working closely with the technical team in representation & legislation, planning & budget processes, monitoring government programs, advocacy, all aimed at improving service delivery for our people in communities’’, said David Kugonza Documentation & Communications officer, ToroDev

David Kugonza sharing the objectives of the training 

The deputy chief administrative officer Kyenjojo district Madam Enid Kajumba while officially opening the training on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer commended ToroDev for the services in the district like facilitating the functionality of the district e-society centre something that has increased access to information and communication, inducted school management committees & PTA members, facilitated the recent district budget conference, initiated the CSO’s-District forum meetings where we meet quarterly plan & budget together on addition to discussing service delivery issues in the district, and now building capacity of newly elected district councillors. ‘’ we very much appreciate your efforts to support government programs and Kyenjojo district local government in particular and we also pledge to work with you at any time you need us’’, said Enid Kobugabe the deputy chief administrative officer Kyenjojo district. Enid urged participants to apply the knowledge and skills they acquire to improve services in communities before opening the 2 days capacity building/ induction training.

Enid Kobugabe Deputy CAO Kyenjojo giving opening remarks

Mr. Norman Birungi the main facilitator together with Mr. Orono Francis Xavier took the participants in a number of topics that were not limited to; decentralization, roles of councilors, leadership code of conduct, council rules & procedures, legislation development & management, planning & budgeting, legal drafting of bye-laws, lobbying & advocacy, monitoring & evaluation, communication and ToroDev’s David Kugonza shared the role of ICT in improving service delivery. The honorable members were urged to support the use of ICT platforms like internet, radios, twitter, facebook, whatsapp to reach their people and also communicate their plans as well as giving accountability to the electorates. Also they were advised to have facebook & whatsapp group pages to monitor government programs & services in communities hence easing communication amongst themselves especially those that use smart phones.

Norman Birungi a facilitator during the training

 

Francis Orono a facilitator during a session

‘’ We thank ToroDev for the knowledge & skills, I do observe that  we have been doing things the wrong way especially in implementation processes and our roles as councilors, from today we are going to do things the right way as we aim at improving services to our people’’, said Enock Kaahwa district male youth councilor representing Nyantungo Sub county.

‘’As a district chairperson I thank ToroDev for the detailed training to our councilors and also realize that since they are the voice & key people in development the fact that they represent all categories of people , iam sure the skills acquired will help them in lobbying, planning, monitoring and to legislate professionally to improve services in communities’’, said Mr. Kaija William

Mr. Kaija William the district chairperson sharing with participants during the training

Some of the trained district councilors in a group photo after the 2 days training

‘This training has helped us to understand our roles and responsibilities and also  what to do in the council especially in the standing committees, we promise to use the skills  to plan, lobby & advocate for improve service delivery’’,  Said honorable Jane Ahaisibwe councilor representing Butiiti Sub county.

The district speaker Hon. Ronald Karamagi while closing the 2 days training appreciated ToroDev for extending such important knowledge& skills to the councilors of Kyenjojo. He said a lot has been learnt in these 2 days and further acknowledged that to some extent they have been doing things the wrong way especially while conducting council sessions which will not be repeated with effect from today. He called upon other civil society organizations with a motive of developing communities like ToroDev to come and support to fill the gap that exist in other sectors.

We are grateful to all our development partners SIDA, NED, SPIDER,  ICT4DEM, CIPESA & Kyenjojo district local government for the financial and technical support.