Monday 24 June 2013

Local Citizens discuss the state of roads and education sectors in Kyenjojo District on radio.

Local citizens from Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District held a live radio discussion on Better FM on 9th June 2013, highlighting their priority service delivery issues especially the deteriorating education sector and roads. The live radio program which discusses issues of accountability is held every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00pm) on Better FM, Fort Portal is called the ‘Listener’s Forum’ and is supported by ToroDev. The program moderator is Mukonyezi Wilfred.

The panelists on the talkshow were Muzoora Godwin and Hafusimana William who are members of Katooke Advocacy Forum – a rural advocacy forum operating in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District whose initiation was supported by ToroDev. Listeners also participated using call-ins, SMS and the listeners forum facebook page.

One of the Classroom at Rubango Primary School
The panelists and listeners advocated for increased government support to Rubango Primary School which holds a total number of over 150 (one hundred and fifty) students with only six teachers and one toilet that was constructed by parents and is being used by both the teachers and the pupils. The school also has inadequate classroom blocks that are in a poor state.

“The performance of the school has totally declined because of the poor conditions in the school. Government has to allocate more funds and staff in the school to save the situation.” Said Muzoora Godwin, the Chairman of Katooke People’s Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

Members of Katooke Advocacy Forum also used the discussion to talk about the shoddy work that was done at Rubango Primary school. There was 5million that was allocated to the school for the construction of a new toilet. However, a substandard tenderer was used by the corrupt local officials who wanted to use some of the money for their own mutual needs, and the constructed toilet collapsed even before the pupils used it. “We are following up the people who were responsible for the construction of this toilet. We need accountability about how the funds were used, and the tender has to be cancelled so that the latrine is rebuilt.” Said Muzoora Godwin, the Chairman of Katooke People’s Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

Poorly constructed Toilet at Rubango Primary School
The rural monitors also raised the issue of the poor road that leads to Rubango Primary school. The road is swampy and becomes impassable during the rainy season.  The road has not been graded for the past fifteen years (15), and is only being maintained by the local community. “We are concerned about the poor state of the road which passes through a swamp and becomes floody in the rainy season. This road also attracts dangerous animals like snakes if not maintained well by cutting the bushes around it. We are appealing to the concerned local leaders to save the situation since this road leads to many places like Rubango Primary School and other five villages thus it is being used by many people.”

The local people also participated through call-ins and SMS and appreciated the work of the rural monitors and rural advocacy forum clubs in ensuring accountability and service delivery monitoring, “Am very happy about the work that the rural monitors are doing to follow up the poor services in our Sub County and share them on radio. This will help us in a way that all our local leaders will get to know about our sufferings and intervene to rescue the situation.” Said Byakagamba Francis from Mukunyu Trading Center in Kyenjojo District.


Documented by Kogere Rachael 

No comments:

Post a Comment