Mapping Priority Service Delivery Needs in the Rwenzori Region Districts

Mapping Priority Service Delivery Needs in Kabarole District Download

Mapping Priority Service Delivery Needs in Kyenjojo District Download

Mapping Priority Service Delivery Needs in Kyegegwa District Download

Mapping Priority Service Delivery Needs in Ntoroko District Download

ToroDev supported accountability radio talkshow suspended by Uganda government.

‘Orukurato’ live radio talkshow on accountability and service delivery monitoring which has been supported by Toro Development Network (ToroDev) in partnership with HITS FM, Fort Portal has been suspended by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) over allegations of inciting violence against some government officials. The ‘Orukurato’ is a Runyakitara language word meaning ‘debate’. The live radio talkshow has been suspended together with another sister live radio talkshow called ‘Ekitangazo’ also on HITS FM which also broadcasts issues of accountability and governance.

Participants on the 'Orukurato'

The suspension of the live radio talkshow follows President Museveni’s Directive in December 2012 to close radio stations which hosts undisciplined civilians http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-threatens-to-close-down-radio-stations/-/688334/1649892/-/mkhtgv/-/index.html. UCC which suspended the talkshows in January, 2013 is a Uganda government body mandated with regulating the broadcast sector

The radio talkshow which has been broadcasting every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm) has been attracting both local central government leaders, leaders of civil society organizations, opinion leaders and local citizens hence creating an environment for local population groups especially the marginalized rural population groups of women and youth to engage their leaders and hence participate in governance.  

In addition to the radio talkshows, ToroDev has also been empowering marginalized rural communities to participate in governance using both traditional and modern ICT tools.

ToroDev primary project participants of rural youth and women called the rural monitors who were identified and trained in online advocacy using online social media tools like Ushahidi, twitter, emailing, facebook and skills in converging information onto FM radio stations were the cornerstone in the sustainability of the ‘Orukurato’ live radio talkshow since they have been highly involved in the live discussions and participation through SMS, call-ins and research on the priority service delivery needs in their local communities.

In addition to the ‘Orukurato’ ToroDev is also supporting the ‘Listeners Forum’ accountability radio talkshow on Better FM. The live radio talkshow which also broadcasts issues of governance attracts both local and central government leaders, leaders of civil society organizations and opinion leaders among others. The live radio talkshow is broadcasted every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00pm). We hope that the ‘Listenership Forum’ will not be affected by the President Museveni directive.

ToroDev is currently engaging local leaders to understand the importance of accountability and local citizen’s participation in governance using FM radio stations and other traditional and modern ICT tools to improve grassroot communities’ livelihoods.

More on the suspension of the radio talkshow, follow this link http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UCC-suspends-two-radio-talk-shows/-/688334/1659788/-/kkpm7xz/-/index.html

Rwenzori journalists trained in mentorship to improve public accountability broadcasting.

Thirty one radio journalists from the Rwenzori Region based FM radio stations have been trained in mentorship so as to improve broadcasting for public accountability. The three days residential training held between 26^th to 28^th November, 2012 attracted journalists from Better FM, Voice of Toro (VOB), Gold FM, Life FM and Hits FM in Fort Portal, Guide FM and Messiah FM in Kasese, Voice of Bundibugyo (VOB) and Bundibugyo FM in Bundibugyo district and Kyenjojo Development Radio (KDR) and Kyenjojo FM in Kyenjojo district.

The training which was organized by Toro Development Network (ToroDev) in partnership with Rwenzori Journalist Forum (RJF) was facilitated by Lucy Ekadu from Uganda Journalist Union, Henry Tumwine from Uganda Pentecostal University and John Matovu from PANOS Estern Africa.

John Matovu of PANOS training radio staff in mentorship

The mentorship training was intended to identify challenges and good practices among radio staff through sharing experiences on public accountability broadcasting for learning purposes, to improve mentorship skills of radio journalists and to strengthen journalist forums for improved advocacy on public accountability and service delivery broadcasting.

The participants who included news editors, program directors and public accountability program moderators were encouraged to use the skills to mentor their junior staff so as to improve public accountability broadcasting.

ToroDev in partnership with RJF will encourage mentors to submit monthly reports sharing their experiences regarding activities, challenges, success stories on public accountability broadcasting. Their experiences will be shared on http://rwenzorijournalistforum.blogspot.com/  to enable improved advocacy and learning. In addition, RJF and ToroDev will also conduct media conferences, field tours and exchange visits all aimed at sharing knowledge and empowering radio journalists on public accountability broadcasting.

The mentorship program will help improve participation of rural people in government planning and budgetary processes, monitoring service delivery, demanding accountability because the radio journalists have been empowered with skills to mainstream the voices of multiple stakeholders including the civil society, rural youth and women in governance processes.

ToroDev focused on empowering radio journalists in public accountability broadcasting because FM radio fits well with the lifestyle of many rural people in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda since it can easily broadcast in many local languages, people can listen to it while walking or working. Radio is also a popular media channel accessed by over 90 percent of the rural people.

The mentorship training follows another training earlier this year on public accountability broadcasting http://torodev.blogspot.com/2012/05/rwenzori-region-journalists-form-forum.html

New radio advert to improve women participation in governance.

A new radio advert encouraging women participation in governance has started running on HITS FM in Fort Portal. The advert will be running everyday for 2 months and ToroDev hopes the message in the advert will improve women participation in public accountability radio programs, service delivery monitoring in their local areas, participation of women in local government budgetary and planning processes, etc.

The advert which runs a minimum of five times a day calls for improved women participation in demanding accountability from their local leaders, monitoring service delivery since they are the most affected when government services like roads, health services, improved water are not fully provided due to corruption by leaders.

ToroDev Staff  (Left) with HITS FM producer, DJ Mingo making the advert

This follows continued minimal participation of women in governance especially in the rural areas of Uganda like the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. ToroDev has been struggling to improve women participation on its public accountability live radio talkshows on Better FM and HITS FM in Fort Portal despite being given first priority on all the live talkshows and transport support to participate on public accountability radio programs. 

Women continue to play a minimal role in governance like participation local government budgetary and planning processes, monitoring service delivery and demanding accountability from their leaders despite a number of initiatives like affirmative actions by the government of Uganda and civil society organisations to improve their participation in governance.

In the implementation of its service delivery monitoring and public accountability programs, ToroDev’s primary stakeholders are the marginalized population groups of women and youth because ToroDev understands that without them, development can never fully be realized.