“We have a lot of corruption and selfishness among our leaders”, Ategeka Chris

On 9^th February 2014, local citizens appeared on Better FM to discuss the performance of the education sector in their different Sub Counties. “We have a lot of corruption and selfishness among our local leaders and that’s why our education system is lagging behind.  This has also caused other challenges like strikes by teachers due to poor and delayed salary payments, poor monitoring of schools by the local leaders like the inspectors of schools yet they are funded, politicizing government programs like Universal Primary Education for personal mutual benefits, among others”, said Ategeka Chris, the coordinator of Rwenzori Youths Leaders Forum.

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

Education minister Jessica Alupo

Other panelists who participated in the live radio discussion included Mr. Yahaya Abubakari a local citizen of Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko District, Mr. James Bond a teacher of Kamengo Primary School in East Division Fort Portal Municipality, Mr. Mukwano Ssenyonjo the Chairperson of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District and Mr. Amanyire John Kasweta  the Chairperson of Committed Citizens for Better Services in Hakibale Sub County, Kabarole District.

During the discussion, Mr. Yahaya indicated how lack of dedication within the local leaders has affected the performance of the education sector. “Local leaders have failed to concentrate on developing the education sector by forming better policies and implementing them. They have also mixed politics in the education system by influencing head teachers to appoint inappropriate people so as to meet their own mutual benefits”.

Other panelists participated in the live radio discussion by indicating how the performance of the education sector had improved in their sub counties. “Our schools have been performing poorly in the past years. An improvement has been realized this year with 40 pupils coming in first grade” said Kasweta, “In Mugusu Sub County, schools achieved more first grades compared to the past years, such schools include Magunga, Kaboyo, Mugusu Primary Schools, among others”.

Meanwhile, Mr. James Bond appealed to the local leaders to stop politicizing public services. “Local leaders should stop bringing politics into public services because it affects proper service delivery and also causes sufferings to the local people”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns.  “The disqualified results of Hakibaale schools are caused by the local leaders’ political interference”, said Kahwa Livingstone from Hakibaale Sub County, “Ugandan leaders should stop selfishness”, said Mugara Fred from Kyenjojo District, “I hate leaders who bring politics into education”, said Ayebale Gerald from Mugusu Sub County.

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

Assessing the performance of the NAADS (National Agricultural Advisory Services) sector

On 1st February 2014, local citizens appeared on HITS FM to assess the performance of the NAADS sector and the idea of President Museveni to sack all District NAADS coordinators claiming they have failed to transform rural communities from poverty. “NAADS was passed by the Ugandan parliament in 2001 under the NAADS Act to run for 25 years. This program had an aim of increasing people’s incomes through embracing improved modern agriculture. However, both the farmers and the government have had weaknesses in the program and it should not be only the NAADS coordinators to carry blame for failing the program”, said Benjamin Kennedy, a local citizen in Kabarole District.

The local citizen was discussing this during ToroDev’s supported live radio accountability program on HITS FM called ‘Orukurato Program’ that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (8:00 – 10:00pm).

ToroDev's Shila with a NAADS beneficiary in Mugusu Sub County

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Fred Banage, a beneficiary of the NAADS program from Kabarole District who highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of the NAADS program. “NAADS program has been beneficial to the local people who embraced it through increased house hold incomes. However, NAADS has failed due to the poor quality of equipment that is supplied to farmers and the collapse of some co-operations like Rubona Stock Farm that used to be known for supplying high breed cattle”. 

Mr. Fred went ahead to indicated how the government has had weaknesses in running the NAADS program that has also contributed to its failure. “The NAADS program has been under staffed because of being under funded by the government. There is only one extension worker per Sub County yet with many farmers. This has caused many farmers to miss advice/knowledge of handling the supplied equipment”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Benjamin indicated how the government should focus on improving other factors that have failed development among the local people rather than criticizing the NAADS sector only. “I don’t support the President’s issue of sucking all NAADS coordinators, government should focus on other factors that have totally failed development among the local citizens such as corruption, lack of medicines in hospitals, poor roads, among others”.

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

“Our roads are only used by bicycles because they are very poor”, Kisembo Clovis

On 30^th January 2013, local people of Biguli Sub County in Kamwenge 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. “Our roads are so poor that they are used by bicycles only, such roads include Kazinga- Kyenjojo road, Kazinga-Nkoma road, among others”, said Kisembo Clovis, “We have only Biguli Health Center II in the whole sub county which even lacks enough equipment”, said Tusiime Joseph, the Chairperson LC III of Biguli Sub County, “We have only one secondary school in the whole sub county, most students walk long distances to access the school”, said Mrs. Kahubire, “Our harvests are sold at poor prices due to the poor roads”, said Yakob Tumwine.

The people’s issues were run on Better FM radio on 2^nd February 2013 during the ‘Listeners Forum’ 8:00-10:00pm for the local leaders intervention. The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon Birungi Godfrey, the District Councilor of West Division, Fort Portal Municipality, Hon Asaba Paul, the District Councilor of Kyegegwa District and Mr. Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairperson of People’s Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District.

The Listeners' Forum Face Book Page

During the discussion, Mr. Mukwano indicated how rural radio debates had done a great work in attracting leaders’ intervention. “Rural radio debates have created a quicker way of attracting local leaders’ intervention into people’s issues most especially those leaders who mistake advocacy forums of being political groups. Such leaders tend to quickly intervene when they hear people themselves bring out their outcry about the poor service delivery”.

Hon Birungi also participated in the live radio discussion by indicating the high rate of corruption that is affecting proper service delivery. “Some leaders sabotage funds meant for implementing services, Kagote Seed – Mpanga Bridge road was constructed badly by the contractor who bribed other officials to work on the road sub standardly and divert some of the funds for their own purposes”.

Meanwhile, Hon Asaba highlighted the poor service delivery in Kyegegwa District. “Only 7 (seven)million is allocated to Kyegegwa HC IV on a monthly basis for purchasing drugs, but the medicine gets finished within three weeks due to the high population. Shoddy work was also done at Kidindimya Primary School on the construction of staff quarters. The contractor also stole some of the equipment like doors, windows and the water tank”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. "What do local leaders think when people cry over poor services?", asked Latiff from Mugusu Sub County, "The problem with our leaders is that when they reach office, they forget about lobbying and delivering better services", said Mugabe Robert, "Local people should not depend on free education but should rather invest in their private schools if they want good results".

The rural radio debate is supported by NED and SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using radio and social media to improve the participation of marginalized population groups of rural youth and women in governance in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

 

Local citizens receive training in policy advocacy

ToroDev has trained 12 local citizens and a radio journalist in policy advocacy and social media to improve the participation of local citizens in government planning, budgeting and decision making processes. They also received more training in service delivery monitoring and lobbying and advocacy using the most appropriate ICT tools. The training which was held on 30^th January 2014 at ToroDev offices, Fort Portal attracted participant’s form the Rwenzori Region districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and Kamwenge.

The 12 participants were leaders of the rural advocacy forums which are citizen led community groups mostly based at sub county levels aimed at service delivery monitoring and accountability using the most appropriate ICT tools especially local FM radio stations. The rural advocacy forums initiation was supported by ToroDev. A radio journalist representing Rwenzori Journalist Forum (RJF) also participated in the training. RJF initiation was also supported by ToroDev to improve accountability broadcasting in the seven districts of the Rwenzori Region.

Johnstone Baguma (standing) Conducting the training

The training was facilitated by Mr. Johnstone Baguma, the ToroDev Executive Director who highly engaged the rural advocacy forum leaders on issues related to understanding the policy making processes. “A policy is a plan or course of action of a government, political party or business intended to influence and determine decisions, actions and other matters. Without knowing policies, we shall not work properly with the leaders. We need to understand policies so that we can participate in the processes to improve, analyze and review them.” Said Johnstone Baguma.

During the meeting, Mr. Johnstone appealed to leaders of the rural advocacy forums to keep abreast with the national policies to ensure better policy advocacy. “Uganda has a fairly well developed set of national and sectorial policies, however, these policies are not implemented. As leaders of Advocacy forums, you need to understand these policies so as to effectively carry out engagement which requires command of information.” Said Johnstone Baguma.

The training was also intended to help the leaders of the rural advocacy forums share their progress, challenges and future plans. “We have realized better roads such as Kyakagusa road, Kisanga-Headquater road, Kagogo-Kaguma road, among others and better water in Kihondo and Bwanika parishes due to our monitoring activities. However, we still have challenges of transport funds, recording gadgets and threats from leaders.” Said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole District.

Meanwhile, Advocacy forum members also expressed their views and concerns about the policy structure and implementation in Uganda. “Who made the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, Presidential Manifesto, National Development Plan, Sectorial Policies and Uganda Vision 40?” asked Mujuni Betty, the leader of Nkoma Development Advocacy Forum in Nkoma Sub County, Kamwenge District. “I didn’t know about these policies, I need to understand them better so that I can influence the grass root people so that they can also know about them.” Said Atuhairwe Patrick, the Chairperson of Committed Citizens for Better Services in Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole District.

“Some policies are not implemented, an example is the policy of making different cities in Uganda.”, Said Tusiime Francis, a journalist from Rwenzori Journalist Forum. “Some policies are not in line with the constitution but are made by political parties or individuals seeking for personal benefits.” Said Ahimbisibwe Jane, the Chairperson of Kyenjojo Development Advocacy Forum in Kyenjojo Town Council, Kyenjojo District.

Better service delivery realized in different Sub Counties of the Rwenzori Region as a result of the rural monitors activities of demanding accountability from the local leaders and monitoring service delivery

ToroDev has been highly involved in mentoring and supporting the initiation and strengthening advocacy forums to champion the demanding of improved service delivery and democratic engagement through the use of ICT tools like radio, phones, online plat forms like face book, twitter, Ushahidi, skype, among others in the Rwenzori Region districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge  and Bundibugyo. The advocacy forums are community’s own initiated initiatives meant to sustainably monitor and advocate for improved service delivery and demand accountability from the local leaders.     

 

Rural monitors with lap tops received from ToroDev

Advocacy forums have been highly involved in organizing the community to demand for better services from the local leaders. “All our roads had been destroyed by the heavy trucks that carry pozzalana. We went on radio several times appealing to the local leaders to intervene but nothing was done. We then organized the community for a peaceful demonstration against the poor roads and leaders were able to intervene and as I talk, some of the roads have been worked on such as Kyakagusa road, Kisanga-Headquater road, Kagogo-Kaguma road, among others”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole District.

Rural monitors of Bufunjo Sub County in Kyenjojo District have also gone ahead to monitor their local leaders against improper use of office and public funds. “As rural monitors, we have followed up and monitored corrupt leaders who are affecting proper service delivery. Bufunjo Sub County received 152(one hundred and fifty two) bicycles from the ministry to help VHTs(Village Health Teams) run their activities. However, the Sub County Health Assistant made a private meeting with the coordinators in which they agreed to impose a charge of Shs. 30,000 on each VHT member who was going to receive the bicycle. As a forum, we informed the concerned leaders who are helping us to follow up the issue”, said Mr. Tibeha John Bosco, the general secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum.

Advocacy Forums have worked hand in hand with radio journalists by forwarding community issues to the journalists for broadcasting which has increased information and knowledge sharing. “By broadcasting in local languages, local people have been informed especially on issues relating to service delivery and accountability. The radio discussions have also provided better ways to involve local leaders for accountability and  also demand for better services from them”, said Muhindo Ezra, the Chairperson of Katebwa Advocacy Forum in Katebwa Sub County, Kabarole District.

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