ToroDev held a one day District LG-CSO's Forum workshop to present the Baseline survey report & Promote MML e-participation system

The workshop was held on Tuesday 28^thMarch, 2017 at Gardens Restaurant in Fort Portal with the aim of promoting the baseline survey and also validating the report, also to promote the MML e-participation system.

The main objective of this workshop according to SIDA project objective 3;  is to support the implementation of civic participation and complaints systems (crowd sourcing portals, SMS platforms, call center and public access centers) to promote monitoring and reporting on service delivery challenges and human rights violations.

The workshop was attended by 71 participants including key district officials i.e. DIOs, District speakers, Clerk to council, District planner’s members of CSOs, Media and advocacy forum leaders from Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Ntoroko districts

Participants listening to a presentation during the workshop in Fort Portal

 During the workshop the baseline survey report was shared to get recommendations from participants on additional features to include in the e-Participation system (MML). The system was promoted with an aim of generating appropriate data that gives a well-informed direction to promote citizens duty bearers engagement. Also MML is envisaged to be a citizen’s platform to air out their concerns on the status of service delivery and to provide duty bearers access to direct views & needs of citizens for better planning and budgeting processes.

 

Johnstone Baguma, ED ToroDev presenting the baseline report during the workshop in Fort Prtal

 For the last six months ToroDev’s consultant, Dr. Elly Gamukama, conducted research, designed and recommended a design of a system named ”Me and My Leader’ (MML) e-Participation system whose final stages of development are being worked on by a team from AfriTech.

Presentations were made by AfriTech an ICT company that developed the system, the presentation was mainly on what is made of the system and how the system will work to serve the people of Uganda and Nakuru County in Kenya.

Stephen Mugabe of AfriTech presenting the Features of the MML System before participants during the workshop

 After the presentations, participants had some recommendations that included:-

“We expect the system not to openly show the identity of everyone who sends the message for security purposes”. Kiiza Willy from Ntoroko district.

“More promotions and advertisements should be carried out to create awareness of the System”. Said Ategeka Christopher Rwenzori Youth Forum Kabarole District.

“Suggestion boxes should be set in different sub counties where citizens can drop their pressing issues especially those without phone”. Said Sarah from Kyegegwa   

“The system should be promoted in villages through village meetings and encourage youths to use it”. Said Kunihira Haruna life Fm

“The users of the system should be sent a notification message to acknowledge the receiving of after the message”. Said Jane, Kyenjojo district

“I thank ToroDev for taking this direction aiming at transforming societies and engaging duty bearers in our communities  we hope this will  improve service delivery in our  areas and I recommends ToroDev to fully engage the system to people who are on ground especially community groups”. Said Kule Vincent, Kabarole District.

We are grateful to SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all other development partners for the financial and technical support to run these programs.