ToroDev held a Rural Radio Debate/Magazine in central cell Rwebisengo town council Ntoroko District to capture Women, youth and leaders views on the state of health, education, water, roads and economic development

Women, youth and leaders from central cell Rwebisengo town council Ntoroko District showed their concern over the poor service delivery in their district at both town council and village levels. This was during the rural radio debate conducted by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred the moderator ‘Listeners’ Forum’ program on Jubilee radio and ToroDev’s M&E officer Amanya Sheila on 26^th September 2017.

The main objective of holding rural debates is mainly to capture the concerns of rural women and youth from hard to reach communities who are also unable to appear live on FM radio platforms for talk shows which are always aired late in the evenings yet women have other responsibilities in their homes that makes them not to actively raise their issues concerning the state of service delivery in their respective places.

People’s views from central cell in Rwebisengo town council were amplified live on Jubilee radio on 1^st October 2017 during the ‘Listeners Forum" program for leaders ’intervention and listener’s contributions. During the rural radio debate the following concerns were raised by women that need duty bearers’ intervention; 

“We have few medical workers, inadequate drugs, and limited water at Rwebisengo health centre IV, we request our duty bearers especially the LC5 to lobby for more health workers to come on board”. Said Dorothy Basemera during the rural debate.

Participants sharing their views with Mr. Mukonyezi the Listeners Forum Program moderator on Jubilee radio during a Rural Radio Magazine/Debate in central cell Rwebisengo town council.

 “We request duty bearers and DHO of Ntoroko to work hand in hand and improve health services in   the HC1V of Rwebisengo Town Council”. Said Mary Anne during the Rural radio Debate.

“We don’t have any ambulance in Rwebisengo health centre IV for any emergency especially to transport women with complications during that critical time of delivery has put women and other patients at risk. We request duty bearers to lobby for an ambulance to improve health services in our district”.  Said Daniel Steady Karwana chairman Rwebisengo town council during the rural debate.

“Makondo and Rwebisengo roads are impassable due to potholes, its very risky during rainy seasons and this makes transport to be costly especially to access market places” Said Bonabana Victoria during the rural radio debate in Ntoroko district.

“Operation wealth creation is not at its best and we have failed to benefit from the program especially on the way how seeds are supplied they come late and they are of poor quality which  affects farmers and they end up not benefiting. We request the coordinators of the program to always supply seeds on time so that people can plan early for the season. Said Joyce Kagole from central cell Ntoroko district during the rural debate.

A woman in central cell Rwebisengo Town council sharing her concerns during the rural radio magazine

“Most UPE Schools don’t have enough text books and enough desks some learners end up sitting on the dusty floor, this has resulted into congestion, confusion and indiscipline amongst the learners.In this case we request district inspector of schools to work hand in hand with district education officer to lobby for scholastic materials,” said Zahura Marry during the rural debate.

“Our schools are not doing well as far as education is concerned they keep increasing fees to be paid by parents yet they are government aided schools and pupils are supposed to study freely .we request duty bearers to come and explain why the money increases every term? Said Gambuza Henry during the rural radio debate.

“We have managed to form women group but we have failed to benefit in operation wealth creation program .We request program coordinators to come on ground and teach us more about the program so that we can also benefit .Said Aisha Kebirungi during the rural radio debate in Ntoroko

“The town council has failed to work on roads in central cell and they are impassable especially during rainy periods, we call up the mayor and his team to work on them,” said Kisembo Wilson from central cell Rwebisengo town council.

“Wilson added that we don’t have a public toilet in Rwebisengo town council and this is a problem to people in our community and in the town council , we are afraid anytime there can be an outbreak of diseases. We call upon the mayor and clerk to work on that problem which is likely to result into a big problem.

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

 

ToroDev Held Three (3) Rural Radio Magazines in Kakabara Sub county Kyegegwa District to give a chance to women and youths from hard to reach area to hear their say on the status of service delivery in health, education and entrepreneurship development.

Rural magazine/debate concept was birthed after realizing a smaller number of women were participating in live radio talkshows and their issues were not presented to their duty bearers.The limited number of women and youth from hard to reach areas forced ToroDev to come up with a convenient way of reaching out to them and have their voices recorded. 

On 27^th/9/ 2017 ToroDev team moved to three villages located in Kakabara sub county in Kyegegwa District to mainly capture issues from rural women, youths and Duty bearers from hard to reach areas of Mwibaale, Mukuba villages and Kakabara  trading center in kakabara sub county Kyegegwa district.

Participants of the Rural Radio Magazine/debate at Mukuba in a group photo

“The focus areas are mainly very remote areas with poor essential service delivery.Participants selected were mainly 40% rural women 40% youth and 20% technical leaders (head teachers of government schools, in-charge of health centers, OCs of police stations, & local leaders are also involved in the debate”. Said Amanya Sheila ToroDev during the rural radio debate in Mwibale Parish Kakabara Sub County. 

 

Sheila added key issues collected from the three debates will be presented to the duty bearers from Kyegegwa District to take action,the recorded voices will be amplified live on Jubilee and duty bearers invited to give their comments on what was amplified. Documentation will be done on listener’s forum face book page, ToroDev facebook page, website and blog to create more awareness and to attract leader’s attention. Furthermore key leaders from Kyegegwa will receive copies on their emails.

Issues captured will be amplified live on Jubilee radio on 22^nd/29^th October & 5^th November 2017 during the ‘Listeners Forum’ program that is aired live every Sunday starting from 8:00-10:00pm for the duty bearers’ intervention.

A woman giving out her views to program moderator during the Rural Radio Magazine/Debate field exercise

During the 3 rural radio debates/ magazines 98 women and 40 youths from hard to reach areas showed their outcry over the poor service delivery in health centers, education, roads sectors and entrepreneurship development and asked for support from their leaders. 

Detailed articles will be published immediately after the voices are amplified live on radio talkshow and listener’s comments will be included.

The rural radio debates/magazines are supported by NED, ICT4Dem and SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using radio and social media to improve the participation of marginalized population groups of rural youths and women in governance issues in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

Members of parliament need to consider electorates views before amending Article 102(b) of the constitution.

ToroDev through her weekly ‘Orukurato’ talk show that is aired live every Saturday 8pm-10pm on Hits Fm on 23^rd September, 2017 hosted Hon. Enock Byakagaba, a division councilor in Fort portal municipality, Mr. Baguma Patrick the Fort Portal municipality FDC vice chairperson and Hon.Herbert Mugisa chairperson LCIII South division who discussed the on-going debate in Uganda’s parliament where Article 102 (b) of the constitution that talks about age limit is in the processes of being amended.

The three shared with listeners their opinions especially on what they thought to be done before any amendment of the constitution.‘’I think as Ugandans especially our members of parliament have a lot to discuss at this time especially issues that impart directly to service delivery sectors like education, health, economic development, infrastructure, etc other than the age limit debate which seem to be focusing on making the current president as an individual eligible for another term of service than a country’s development, we need to build our country to truth, justice and reconciliation if we are to have successful democratic engagements as a country’’, said Patrick Baguma.

‘’We appreciate what the president has done for the country in the last 30 years towards improving and developing our country.  The idea of amending article 102(b) of the constitution will take the country back in conflicts and will guarantee life presidency and its unfortunate that our members of parliament and the leaders we elect to represent us are the ones proposing the idea of amending our constitution without consulting citizens. Article 102 (b) states that a person is not qualified for election as president of Uganda if he or she is “less than thirty-five years (35) and or more than seventy-five (75) years of age which disqualifies President Museveni, what is happening now in the country is aimed at benefiting an individual to rule the country until he decides to retire’’, said Hon Enock Byakagaba.

‘’I urge our leaders not to rush amending the constitution but focus on other service delivery issues that benefit the common man and if they are to amend the article, they should  consult citizens and hear their views/opinions on the matter because even the constitution provides for a referendum in case of such disagreements’’,said Herbert Mugisa chairperson LCIII South division. 

During the 2 hours live discussion over 30 listeners participated by calling in to share their views on the matter,” Why is it  that the  president has failed to come out and say something on age limit amendment bill so that the country can know  who is behind it”, asked Patrick from Kasenda Kabarole district, ‘’why is it that our MPs  are concentrating a lot on age limit bill not on under-performing sectors in the country like education, health, among others, asked Badru from Rubona Kabarole district, ‘’Members of parliament will be blamed if article 102(b) in the constitution will be amended and most likely they will pay for their actions when they come back to ask for votes from  electorates in 2021’’, Said Waswa from Kasunga Nyanja in Bunyangabu district. 

We take a great opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all our development partners for financial support.