Tuesday 3 May 2016

Roles of lower local leaders towards improving service delivery

Electoral reforms play a big role in informing and guiding people of their duties and responsibilities in a country but sometimes the government does not take time to acquit the citizens of what exactly should be done.

The constitution of the republic of Uganda 1995, under the national objectives and directive principles of state policy, objective 29 (a) states that; it shall be a duty of every citizen to be patriotic and loyal to Uganda and to promote it’s well-being, (c) to contribute to the wellbeing of the community where citizens live and (f) to promote democracy and the rule of law.
In a bid to solicit for the majority support, the promises made by candidates in the last general elections in Uganda are quiet many. Some will be implemented and others will not but the issue remains, it is the role/responsibility of every responsible electorate to keep demanding from their leaders for improved service delivery. 
ToroDev in partnership with local radio stations in the Ruwenzori region has continued to sensitize the citizens on their roles as well as educating them on the roles of elected leaders.

Kaahwa Kansengerwa the moderator of 'Manya Ekiragiro Kyawe' on KRC FM
On 20th April 2016 on ‘Manya Ekiragiro Kyawe’ program on KRC FM a live radio talk show that runs every Wednesday 8:00pm-10:00pm, we sensitized citizens on the roles/duties of local council leaders.
’ Leaders at lower local councils especially councilors are supposed to collect citizens view for example from the parish level to the sub county and then to the district council. Once they take them to the district council, they are supposed to bring feedback to the electorates on the council decisions’’, said Mr. Ssenyonjo Mukwano, the leader of Mugusu people’s forum for development.

‘’ When we elect leaders, we put them at the fore front of other electorates so that they are able to change the situations in our communities especially in situations where citizens feel marginalized. For example the chairperson LC 111 has the capacity to mobilize electorates in the sub county for a positive change’’, said Mr. Rwaheru Gilbert the leader of Kicwamba advocacy forum.

The two (2) hours live radio discussion as usual had participation of listeners who called inn and others sent sms to share their views  during the program; ‘’it is unfortunate some leaders just seat in offices and watch things happening unexpected, we need to keep reminding them of their roles and put them on pressure to work for the betterment of our communities’’, said Beatrice Tuhaise, a caller from Harugongo in Kabarole district, ‘’Area councilors and chairpersons’ supervision play a big role in uplifting the standards of community members. This means that if a leader is active to know what & how something is happening, that community cannot remain the same’’, said Mrs Mugisa Grace a caller from Bugaki in Kyenjojo district, ‘’Our leaders need to learn to befriend citizens especially the youth who are unemployed in order to mobilize them for development engagements and they can use the office of community development officers to sensitize them on how they can improve their living standards to be responsible citizens without waiting for gifts in form of soap & sugar for exchange of a vote’’, said  Mr. Muhenda Sam a caller from Kakabara in Kyegegwa district,’ToroDev should continue injecting more money in these talkshows because the radio talkshows have empowered us local citizens with information and knowledge to know how to demand public accountability for improved service delivery from the leaders we elected, this has enabled us to keep monitoring on the leaders”. said Abwooli Omusomesa a caller from Kiguma in Kabarole district


We are grateful to our development partners; DRTNED, SPIDER, SIDA, ICT4DEM, & CIPESA for the support towards keeping the citizens informed through social media platforms.

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