ToroDev Held Rural radio Debate/Magazine in Mugusu Town Council Kabarole District on 6th May 2017.

With Support from National Endowment for democracy and SIDA ToroDev has been conducting rural radio magazine/debates to capture the voices of rural women and youth in hard to reach communities with an aim of sharing their views with duty bearers on radio and other traditional platforms like during accountability meetings organized at the parish level by the advocacy forums initiated by ToroDev.  

The views of 12 women, 16 youths and 4 duty bearers (Youth Councilor, Speaker, Local council 1) were recorded by talkshow moderator Mr.Mukonyezi Wilfred and their voices were amplified live on Jubilee Fm during Listeners forum talkshow.

The participant’s selection was mainly rural women, youth and duty bearers the focus discussion was on the state of service delivery in Mugusu sub county/Town council, for example what issues need to be addressed by the duty bearers in health, education, roads sectors?, what woman and youths expect from the elected duty?, how woman and youths plan to work with the duty bearers to see there is improved service delivery among others.

The issues discussed were recorded and broadcast live on Jubilee radio during the ‘listeners forum’ program on Sunday 8:00-10:00pm for the local leaders’ intervention, articles posted online (listeners forum face book page &ToroDev blogs), Phone SMS, calls used for mobilization.

“We are here because we care of our mothers , sisters  and young  brothers who have difficulties  with sharing their key service delivery issues  on radio and other platforms due to lack of accessibility of the platforms and due to their busy schedules. We request women to share with our moderator the state of service delivery in their community”. Said Sheila Amanya M&E officer ToroDev.

Participants who attended rural radio debate in Mugusu town council/sub county  Kabarole district

“The government should put much focus in supporting girl child as much as possible because it is the girl child that needs the most support, the girl child is more disadvantaged and nobody thinks of the girl child as someone who needs empowerment yet, she is the one who raises the society.” Said Kezabu Oliver a concerned citizen from Mugusu.

 

women in Mugusu sharing their concern with program moderator Mr Mukonyezi Wilfred during rural radio debate 

Olive we have so many challenges in the health sector especially in Mugusu health center III, our nurses don’t attend to patients, patients wait for many hours without being attended too, and we request health management committee members to work hand in hand with DHO to improve on supervision

 “Poverty is one of the reasons marriages fail in many homes, because men are not supporting their wives and this causes a lot of fights and domestic violence, radio talkshows should sensitize men to work and provide for their families instead of wasting time betting for soccer”. Said Annet Balinda. 

Annet added we request women and girls to be empowered with entrepreneurship skills to create employment we hope to see young women who have mastered a skill and have been educated too adding that, after the training, the Government should support the initiative and give the beneficiaries start-up loans of sewing machines with the focus on tailoring of clothes, beddings and bags in order for them to enhance their skills and make a living”. Said Kaheru Ma 

“We have problems with our health center they lack health facilities such as drugs, water, latrines and the hygiene is bad  especially Mugusu Health centre III, we request duty bearers to lobby for our health centre clean  water source to improve”. Said Monica Resty from Mugusu town council Kabarole district.

  

Monica added that in Mugusu there is a problem of lack of piped water system; people are drinking dirty water which is hazardous.

“There are high school dropouts because parents are very supporting their children with school requirements, parents are too busy looking for money and they have no time for their children   The LC1 should follow up these children and meet their parents”. Said Kyakahuma Joseph from Kirara village Mugusu town council.

 Joseph  added that people in Kirara have failed to benefit in operation wealth creation the program coordinators and organizers have failed to coordinate the program well and they have failed to consult what exactly people need for their day today life and what will improve their living.

“Youth livelihood programs  is not at its best in Nyakihira village, because the seeds delivered are of bad quality,  they don’t grow well and the groups, that have benefited complain over low yield, wrong timing etc”.Said Mugisa Daniel from Nyakihira village Mugusu town council.

“We have challenges with roads such as Mugusu to Kinyankende road, Mugusu to Butebe these roads have potholes especially during rainy season and they have affected farmers a lot  such as lowering prices for agriculture produces, we call up on town council  duty bearers to work hand in hand with  district engineer to  improve these roads”. Said Baito Richard  Kiraro Mugusu town council.

We have limited school facilities such as laboratory equipments and “A” level text books, in Kaboyo secondary school, we request Kabarole district education department to work with district duty bearers to lobby and solve these problem if we are to have impact in the education sector”.  Said Amanyire Olando a councilor from Mukiraro Mugusu town council.

We take a great opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, and CIPESA for financial support