Rural monitors continue to lobby for improved services in their Sub Counties

As a way of motivating, encouraging, strengthening and empowering the Advocacy forums and rural monitors, ToroDev has been communicating on Phone and using online (Facebook, Skype and email) tools to assess the performance and weaknesses of the Advocacy Forums and rural monitors.

The Rural monitors of Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District have followed up the issue of fencing Bufunjo Health Center III by using radio discussions. “The Fencing of the Bufunjo health center 111 has commenced but our worry is that the quality of the fence is not the best because the metal poles have started falling within a short period of time which shows shoddy work is being done, but as rural monitors we have already identified this issue and the leaders have been informed’’ said Tibeha John Bosco, the secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

 

Bufunjo Health Center III

Rural monitors of Ntoroko District have also followed up the issue of the poor education sector in the district. “As Rural monitors we have been monitoring the education sector in the sub county of Rwebisengo and we found out that education is still badly off in Rwebisengo S.S , the school has few  qualified teachers  and it’s a government aided school” Said Swizen, a member of Ntoroko Citizens Concern in Ntoroko District. 

Meanwhile, some roads in Kyegegwa District have been worked on and maintained due to the monitoring activities of the rural monitors. “Roads have been worked on and well maintained like Miru -Musanji -Kwantampora Migamba Road, Kwantamora, Kibale , kakabara Road, and Nyakatoma –Kyesega in Mpara Sub county, Kyegegwa District”, Said Alinde Joseph, a rural monitor in Mpara Sub County. 

Mpara Road under construction

According to Mukwano Ssenyonjo of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, NAADS has contributed to the modernization of the agricultural sector. “Through NAADS, agriculture has increased total factor productivity of both the land and labour for the benefit of the farmers. However the rich have benefited more than the poor, and those with enough land, big farms and organized groups have benefited more”.

In conclusion, there is also need to conduct more sensitization/accountability meetings with members of the rural advocacy forums/rural monitors to empower them with more skills to skillfully engage with their local leaders for improved service delivery.

Local citizens discuss the East African Community integration

On 16^th November 2012, panelists appeared on HITS FM to discuss the East African Community integration and how it will help the member countries. This was during the ‘Orukurato Program’ a 2hour weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm) that is sponsored by ToroDev. “The East African Community integration will be composed of 6(six) countries which include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. All these countries will be politically, socially, and economically united into one country, have one government and one president”, said Lawyer Musana, an Advocate of the high Court.

Lawyer Musana went ahead to indicate the advantages that the six countries are likely to achieve from the integration. “Economically, taxes inform of tariffs on commodities from these countries will be reduced thus cheaper items realized and improved markets. Political stability will also be realized from the unity since we shall be one country with one president”

Leaders during the East African Community summit

The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon. Businge Prosper, a councilor of West Division, Fort Portal Municipality, Kabarole District and Mr. James Bond, a teacher and an expert on governance.

During the discussion, Hon. Businge Prosper highlighted the factors that should be considered by the six countries before forming the integration. “All the six countries should have common challenges, the geographical location should be the same, they should have common political activities/affairs, and the level of preparedness for the integration should also be equal”.

Meanwhile, Mr. James Bond gave some factors that may hinder the integration of the six countries. “Uganda is a ‘no change country’ yet other countries have presidential term limits, Uganda and Kenya are looking at China as an investor yet Tanzania is looking at America, and corruption in Uganda is too high”.  

Local citizens also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “The local people have not been approached about the integration”, said Paul Rubombora, “Leaders are using the integration to seek their own interests rather than the local people’s interests”, said Kaswara, “Leaders have not sensitized the local people about the integration”, said Edward, “Uganda has not reached that level of joining the integration because  our constitution is not streamlined”, said Kyomuhendo, “There are many benefits for joining the integration but our political system is still a challenge”, said Gollar.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto.                                                                

Local people use rural radio debates to demand for better services

On 14^th November 2013, Local people of Rwentuha Sub County in Kyegegwa District showed their outcry over the poor service delivery in their Sub County. This was during the rural radio debate conducted by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred, a moderator of the ‘Listeners Forum’ on Better FM, a radio discussion sponsored by ToroDev . “Mpara-Rwentuha road is very poor and impassable”, said Kyaligonza, “The roads are so poor, we no longer move to Mpara and Biguli because of the floody roads”, said Wilber, “We do not have medicine in Kazinga HC III”, said Nyakabwa David, “We do not have safe water, people are sharing locally made wells with cattle”, said Baragiine Moses, “Kazinga Primary School is not performing well, last year we did not have any pupil in first grade”, said Monday.

The poor roads of Rwentuha Sub county, Kyegegwa District

Meanwhile, the people’s issues were run on Better FM radio on 17^th November 2013  during the ‘Listeners Forum’ 8:00-10:00pm for the local leaders intervention. The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairperson of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District, Ezra Muhindo, the Chairperson of Katebwa Advocacy Forum in Katebwa Sub County, Kabarole District and Ampaire Wilbrod, the General Secretary of Rwenzori Youths Leaders Forum.

During the discussion, Mr. Mukwano appealed to leaders to stop threatening rural monitors. “Leaders should know that rural monitors help them to perform their duties. They should therefore work with them instead of threatening them and being against their activities of monitoring services”. 

“In Katebwa Sub County, Kibate bridge and Bujabara bridge, all on River Nsongya were washed away by the heavy rains and have never been worked on. This has hindered our production because of lack of access to markets”, said Muhindo Ezra. 

Meanwhile, Wilbrod highlighted the objectives of the Rwenzori Youths Leaders Forum. “Our objectives as a forum are to raise the local people’s voices, monitoring local leaders to deliver better services, bridging the gap between the local leaders and the local people and engaging the leaders to carry out up ward bottom planning by providing people’s priority needs”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins. “Leaders should give accountability”, said Mbaga Saidi from Hakibaale, “The road constructed in Kyetagara ward is so poor”, said Nuwagaba, “Development in Rwamukora is so poor because of poor water and poor health centers”, said Mwesige from Katooke Sub County, “Service delivery is now improving because of putting our local leaders on air”, said Allelluah from Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko District. 

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred.

We formed ‘Business Forum for Indigenous Traders’ group so as to develop our business skills and fit in the competing world”, Mugisa Andrew.

The Chairman of Business Forum for Indigenous Traders has appealed to all local traders to join the group so as to effectively develop their skills and fit in the competing world. “We formed this group as business men and women so as to help each other through sharing skills and knowledge, discussing government policies, knowing them better and how we can use them to liberate our business performance, and how we can overcome exploitation from outsiders”. 

This was during ToroDev’s supported live radio discussion on HITS FM called the “Orukurato Program” on 9^th November 2013. The two hour weekly radio discussion discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm). The topic for discussion was “Analyzing government policies on the promotion of indigenous business in Uganda”

Amelia Kyambade, Minister of Trade and Industry

Panelists who participated in the live radio discussion included Mr. Mugisa Andrew Katuramu the Chairman of Business Forum for Indigenous Traders and Mr. Mugisa Billy Gracious the Chairperson of Kitojo Integrated Development Association, all business men in Kabarole District.

During the discussion, Mr. Mugisa Billy discussed the factors that are needed to maintain a small scale business and expanding it into a medium type of business. “Most businesses start as small scale but need the following factors to expand into medium type of businesses; availability of customers, availability of customer care, respect of time, creating other income generating activities so as to avoid breaking the business, record keeping and avoiding of debts”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mugisa Andrew went ahead to advice all business men to register their businesses so as to avoid business disruptions. “All businesses should be registered under the registrar of companies and given certificates for their operation so that they are carried out legally and within the rules of the country”.

Local listeners who participated in the live radio discussion through call ins were able to raise their issues and concerns. “Our local and political leaders should make emphasis on making workshops to teach local people business related skills”, said Kwezi Edward, “Government is bringing people’s businesses backward due to the poor roads that block marketing”, said Kahwa Jackson from Kabonero Sub County in Kabarole District, Most businesses don’t develop because of the bad debtors”, said Moses, “Customer care is so important in attracting customers”, said Adolf from Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District.

The Live Radio Discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto.

“Performance of Katooke Secondary School is poor yet the school has good facilities” Sunday Tailor

On 10^th November 2013, Sunday Tailor a local citizen of Katooke Town Council in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District appeared on Better FM to talk about the poor performance of Katooke Secondary School. “Katooke Secondary School has good facilities like a well-equipped science laboratory and also enough constructions. However, the school performs poorly due to internal challenges like lack of enough teachers, absence of a head teacher, misunderstandings between the teachers and lack of control by the school management over the students”

The local citizen was discussing on ToroDev supported live radio discussion on Better FM called “The Listeners Forum”. The two hour radio program discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (8:00 – 10:00pm).

Other panelists who participated in the live radio discussion included Hon Musa Swaibu ,the Mayor Kyegegwa Town Council, Mr. Ndabitunga, the Chairperson of Forum for Rights and Development in Bukuuku Sub County, Kabarole District and Mwesige Housein the Senior Town Clerk Kyegegwa District.

The Listeners' Forum Face Book Page

During the discussion, Hon. Musa Swaibu was able to give accountability concerning Kyegegwa District to the local people. “In our budget 2013-2014, we received 440 (four hundred and forty) million shillings and allocated 72(seventy two) million to roads, 71(seventy one) million to NAADS, 6(six) million to Community Service, 4(four) million to community Drive Development and 140 million to public health.”

Meanwhile, Hon Mwesige Housein discussed the four major issues that are being emphasized by the local leaders to check development in the District. “As local leaders, we are putting much emphasis in sensitizing the community through forming village education committees, sensitizing the community on health and sanitation, solving the local people’s issues over land disputes through making people get land titles and implementing government projects”.

Local listeners were also able to participate in the live radio discussion through the programs face book page called the ‘Listeners Forum’. “Our local leaders should also appear on radio because we have a lot of issues”, said Tugume from Kyenjojo, “It is very important to see leaders give accountability”, said Oscar from Ibanda, “We thank ToroDev for bringing leaders on board. Most leaders fear to come on radio for fear of being asked accountability issues”, said Abel Lubega Amooti.

The Live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred.