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.

“Funds got from the central government are not enough to maintain our roads”, Rubaijaniza Johnson

On 2^nd November 2013, the Engineer of Burahya County in Kabarole District appeared on HITS FM to explain to the local people how the funds got from the central government are not enough to maintain roads. “The money that we get from the central government is too little yet it runs every thing like maintaining the roads, running the engineers office, buying fuel for the graders, stationary, among others”. This was during ToroDev’s accountability sponsored program on HITS FM called the Orukurato Program.

The engineer also went ahead to give accountability about the roads sector. “We received 390 (three hundred and ninety) million shillings from the central government for the construction of roads only. We shall be working on some of the roads in different Sub Counties and a total of 260 kilo meters will be constructed and each kilo meter is worth 15 million shillings. Some of these roads include Isanga-Rwankezi road, Kisomoro-Kyamatanga road, Kicwamba-Kiburara road, Kabegira-Kirere road, Kaboyo-Kyezire-Kaziyo road, among others”.

A temporally Bridge on River Nsongya, Katebwa Sub County

Meanwhile, the live radio discussion was also attended by Hon Moses Ikagobya, the Vice Chairperson of Kabarole District. The Chairperson explained some of the challenges that they face in maintaining the roads. “In Kabarole District, we have a challenge of most sub counties being separated by rivers, this makes it expensive because of the many bridges that we have to construct. Some of these bridges that we are planning to construct include Mugoma-Mbuzi Bridge in Karambi Sub County which is worth 55 (fifty five)million, Kisakyabairu Bridge in Busoro Sub County which is worth 55 (fifty five)million, Nsongya bridge in Katebwa Sub County which is worth 55 (fifty five)million shillings, among others”. 

The Vice Chairperson also indicated the poor quality of grader owned by the district that does not perform quality work. “The grader that we have at the district is of poor quality. It can only dig a road that has been graded before and cannot dig a road with pot holes. The grader cannot also be used all the time and needs a lot of attention when being used”.

Local listeners who participated in the Live Radio Discussion through call ins were able to raise their issues and concerns. “Our roads are so poor and impassable during the rainy season”, said Joseline from Muhoti Sub County, “Kibiito-Kabonero road is so poor and muddy”, said Daniel from Kibiito Sub County, “Roads are constructed badly and in a short time they get spoilt”, said Adruf from Kicwamba Sub County.

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

Kamwenge District Speaker thanks ToroDev for creating a platform for the local leaders to give accountability

The District Speaker of Kamwenge District Hon Twebaze Gerald has thanked ToroDev for creating a plat form for the local leaders to give accountability to their local people. This was during ToroDev’s supported live radio accountability program on Better FM called “The Listeners Forum” on 3^rd November 2013. “I thank ToroDev for sponsoring this program that has created a plat form for the local leaders to give accountability to the local people which has created awareness among the local citizens”. 

During the live radio discussion, Hon Gerald was also able to give accountability to the local people. “We have held council meetings every after two months and councilors from different sub counties have been given chance to raise issues concerning their sub counties. During these meetings, the local leaders are also asked to give accountability concerning their different offices”.

Mr. Robert Kamasaka, LCV Kamwenge District

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Ategeka Christopher, the Regional coordinator of Rwenzori Youths Leaders Forum in Kabarole District, Mr. Aleluah Godfrey, a local citizen of Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko District and Mr. Ntabangwa George, a local citizen from Kamwenge District.

Mr. Aleluah highlighted the status of service delivery in Ntoroko District. “I thank the central government for constructing Fort Portal – Lamya road, however, the bridges constructed along the road are too small compared to the volume of water that flows from the mountains. Wasa Bridge is also in its sorry state and three people have so far lost their lives due to the flooding waters of River Wasa. Kibokoli, Kisanga and Kigara villages all in Ibanda Parish in Karugutu Town Council lack safe water, people are sharing river water with animals like cattle and pigs”.

Meanwhile, Hon Gerald went ahead to give more accountability to the local people. “In the health sector, we have built maternity wards in Rukunyu, Ntara, Kanara, Kahungye and Kyagara health centers. We also lobbied electricity to Ntara and Rukunyu health centers. We have also built classrooms, teachers quarters and offices at Kyeihemba,  Mukukuru  and Kamugamuzi Primary Schools. Roads such as Ntonwa-Kyakaitaba-Biguli road, Kyakaraba-Busiriba-Bujongobe road, Rukoko-Busingye road and Kabuga- Kamenge road have been constructed”.    

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred. 

ToroDev trains rural advocacy forum members in using media for development

On 31^st October 2013, ToroDev held yet another one day training of rural advocacy forum leaders that aimed at increasing the impact of media in building mutual beneficial relationship between the rural advocacy forums and the local media. The training attracted 7 leaders of advocacy forums who included leaders of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery in Kicwamba Sub County Kabarole District, Peoples Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County Kabarole District, Bufunjo Peoples Forum in Bufunjo Sub County Kyenjojo District, citizens in Action Development Forum in Mpara Sub County Kyegegwa District, Ntoroko Citizens Concern in Ntoroko District and the coordinator of Rwenzori Journalist Forum.

Participants during the training 

During the training, ToroDev’s media and communications officer Akugizibwe Solomon was able to share different skills with the advocacy forum leaders such as skills of writing innovative stories, skills of building and sustaining online communities and skills of sharing challenges and learning from each other through success stories.  

The rural monitors also achieved skills of using Web 2.0 tools like Ushahidi, face book, twitter and Skype. A face book page was also designed for the rural monitors to post there issues concerning service delivery concerning their sub counties. “We have opened up a face book page called State of Service Delivery in the Rwenzori Region and we expect all the rural monitors to always post there issues concerning service delivery in their sub counties so that there is easy and free interaction between the rural monitors and the journalists concerning service delivery issues in the Region”, said Akugizibwe Solomon.    

Meanwhile, ToroDev also gave out 6 (six) internet modems to the different advocacy forums to help them share their service delivery issues on line so that there is attraction of the local leaders intervention. “We give you these internet modems to help you access internet in your respective sub counties so that you can be able to share your service delivery issues on line and also make online communication with your fellow rural monitors and journalists so as to seek the local leaders interventions into the raised issues”, said Shilla Amanya, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ToroDev.