Understanding the role of MPs in Uganda

The Kabarole district councilor Hon. Paul Katisa while appearing on the orukurato live radio discussion indicated that the main role of a Member of Parliament is to represent people in the parliament, present their problems, issues, plans and ideas, lobby for the people to have improved service delivery and follow up the Government plans among other roles.

Hon. Jacob Oulanyah - Deputy Speaker Uganda Parliament

Katisa added that the Members of Parliament is supposed to follow-up the government funds to ensure proper accountability in the management of public resources.  

The district councilor was appearing on the orukurato live radio discussion on Saturday 3^rd January 2015 on Hits FM to discuss a topic titled, “Understanding the role of MPs in Uganda.” 

During the talkshow listeners also participated using call-ins, SMS and online and over fifteen (15) local citizens called in, among them three (3) were women. 

Local citizens are not happy with the MPs because they have failed to provide services for 4 years they have spent in the parliament. According to Richard from Kagote west division, Kabarole district, he explained that Member of Parliament pledge but do not fulfill their promises, He further said the roads in Kagote are impassable during rainy seasons, very dusty during dry seasons, full of potholes, shoddy work is always done when the road is to be worked on, and we have talked and talked but we can’t see any member of parliament lobbying for us.

According to Mary a caller from Mujuju Kabarole District, members of parliament are just in the parliament to enjoy the taxes we pay and we are here suffering with poor roads, lack of enough medicine in hospital and no one to lobby for us.

Andrew a caller from Mukubo Kabarole District indicated that members of parliament have disappointed us, because they make false promises just to win votes and when they get to parliament they don’t come back on ground to consult their electorates.

More about the roles of MPs follow this link http://www.parliament.go.ug/new/index.php/about-parliament/functions-of-parliament

The live radio discussion is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and NED on a project aimed at converging the use of appropriate ICT tools to improve service delivery.  

Local citizens request for improved service delivery from their leaders

Local citizens from Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole District have appealed to their leaders to effectively lobby and plan for improved service delivery to enable the electorates gain from their leadership, “my MP should have lobbied for better roads, effective health service delivery, better performance of the education sector for instance in Kahangi, our schools are performing poorly because our MPs are busy passing useless laws like the Public Order & Management Bill. Our MPs are also spending our tax payers money taking drinks and having good meals in Kyankwazi.” Said Mwanguhya Kenneth while appearing on the listener’s forum on 4^th January, 2014 at Better FM.

Mwanguhya further adds that, “the only good thing is that the local citizens are now more aware of their rights and hence prepared not to elect them back to parliament in the next elections (2016 Uganda General electons).

The listeners forum which is broadcast every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00pm) on better FM and supported by ToroDev was discussing a topic titled, “Have leaders especially MPs fulfilled their responsibilities.”

Uganda Parliament

Mugisa Moses also from Hakibaale Sub County Committed citizens for better service delivery who was also a panelist on the live radio talkshow also decried the poor performance of leaders especially Members of Parliament, “the primary responsibility of MPs is to legislate and oversight. However, our MPs haven’t performed to their expectations because there is a lot absenteeism for instance on average we always never have more than 100 MPs in every session out of the over 300, even recently the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah said that the 9^th parliament haven’t performed to their expectations,” Said Moses.

Listeners participated in the live radio discussions through call-ins, SMS and online for instance Byamukama from Kabende Parish wanted information on the progress of the national Identity cards. John from Hakibaale Sub County called-in and indicated that they are waiting for elections to show their dissatisfaction to non performing leaders. Natukunda from Burahya County called-in and said that Kagwera (MP Burahya County, Kabarole District) has done a good job in lobby for better roads. Atugonza from Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo district requested for their MP to also come and give accountability to the electorates.

“We are poor because of ignorance,” Bbala Eric

The Coordinator of Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda, Bbala Eric has advised local citizens to invest time and resources in acquiring knowledge on financial literacy so as to uplift their livelihoods. “We are poor because of ignorance for instance when we go to invest we invest in poor breeds of cattle. People in the developed countries have a lot of information on savings, investments, planning for old age, credit management and financial service providers among others,” Said Bbala while appearing on the orukurato live radio discussion on 20^th December, 2014 to discuss issues of financial literacy.

Bbala added, “to develop in business, you need to know how well to use the finances which doesn’t need to always be a lot because even with little money you can save and invest. Today the economy of Uganda is performing poorly and therefore to uplift our livelihoods, we also need to forego some luxuries like alcohol.” Said Bbala.

Bank of Uganda Headquarters which is spearheading a financial literacy project with GIZ

Bbala indicated that it’s important for people especially the youth to improve their entrepreneurial abilities because even the jobs are limited for the many skilled workers, “We have many students graduating but the jobs are very minimal and hence the need to be more financially literate to better plan for the little we have.” Said Bbala.

The orukurato live radio discussion which is supported by ToroDev in partnership with Hits FM and broadcast every Saturday of the week (08:00 – 10:00pm) was also attended by Ngabirano Charles and Baherirwe Anthnas who are small scale entrepreneurs from Rwimi Sub County, Kabarole District.

Baherirwe Anthnas also advised local citizens to equip themselves with more information and knowledge to improve their businesses, “We got a lot of information from many partner institutions like RUDEC. I benefited a lot in-terms of business skills. However there is also need for proper planning to develop because developed countries like Germany were poor but are now well off because of proper planning” Said Baherirwe.

Listeners of the orukurato live radio discussions also participate through call-ins, SMS and online especially on the orukurato facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451619451731153/] for instance Edward from Kabarole called-in and encouraged listeners to form SACCO’s so that government can come in and support while Happy Stephen from Bunyangabu, Kabarole district called-in and requested some information on how people can be part of SACCO’s.

The orukurato live radio discussion is also supported by SIDA/CIPESA and NED and moderated by Kasigazi William.

Ugandan Local Government Minister Responds to Tracfm Poll Data [question] on Improving Energy Service Delivery in Rwenzori sub-region, Western Uganda

The Uganda Minister of Local Government and also MP representing Bunyangabu County, Kabarole District, Hon. Adolf Mwesige has indicated that electricity will be extended to all the rural areas without access to electricity in the near future. “The first thing I did when I was elected to parliament [MP representing Bunyangabu County, Kabarole District] I made a plan of areas in need of electricity in Bunyangabu County.” Said Hon. Adolf.

He adds, “We started connecting trading centres with power lines and trading centres like Buheesi, Kibiito, Kabale, Kasunga Nyanja, Rubona, Kicuucu, etc are now fully connected with electricity because they are connecting centres where many businesses in need of electricity are located.” Said Minister Adolf.

Hon. Adolf Mwesige

We are now through with trading centres in Bunyangabu County, and we are now looking at ensuring the hinterland is also connected to electricity. We have started with Katebwa, Mukubwe, etc. We shall also extend to Kibata and Kanyegaramire among other areas in the hinterland of Bunyangabu.

While appearing on Orukurato live radio program on Hits FM on 6^th December 2014 to respond/give feedback on local citizens concerns about need for government's investment in rural electrification, the minister of local government appealed for citizens patience and also indicated that the government of Uganda has currently embarked on investing in the rural electrification program. “We have got money from the government of France for rural electrification program which cabinet has already passed and we are waiting for parliament approval and through this support many places located in Kabarole district will benefit like Kabahango, Kisomoro, Karambi and Rwengaju.” Said Minister Adolf.

Hon. Adolf Mwesige was giving accountability and also responding to the tracfm poll question titled, “How can the government improve service delivery in the energy/electricity sector?” http://tracfm.org/p/view/1226/  This poll attracted over 1,000 responded, with majority citizens (over 80%) indicating that they are not satisfied with how the distribution of electricity services are managed in the country. This is a new initiative by ToroDev and partners to advance evidence-based advocacy for improved service delivery and poverty reduction through the ICT convergence approach. The polls combine opportunities provided by broadcast media, mobile phone technology and online applications/internet

The Orukurato live radio radio discussion which is supported by Toro Development Network (ToroDev) in partnership with Hits FM was also attended by Mr. Gowon Yaqub – a local citizen. Listeners also participate in the program through call-ins, SMS and online on the Orukurato facebook group.

For instance Macura Florence from Kibiito called-in and requested the minister of Local Government to work on Busamba Road which he promised to lobby for. Tumwine from Kabonero Sub County also called in requesting the minister to extend water to Kasogi which the minister also promised to do.

The Orukurato Live radio discussions & Tracfm Poll Data Initiative is supported by SIDA/CIPESA, NED & Development Initiatives through DRT - Uganda. The live radio discussions to assess poll data collected through the ICT convergence approach is moderated by Kasigazi William Donanto

Kabarole district boss appeals for more funding to the roads sector

The District Chairperson Kabarole Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga has appealed to the central government leaders to increase funding to the roads sector to improve the livelihoods of the rural communities.

“Most of the sub counties in Kabarole district like Mugusu, Kicwamba, Buheesi, Hakibaale, etc get between UGX 6 to 8 million to support the road sector. What can that small amount of money help to improve the road sector in the entire sub county like Hakibaale? We are therefore appealing to our MPs and the responsible ministry to add us more money to improve the road sector.” Said Mr. Rwabuhinga.

While appearing on the ToroDev supported live radio discussion on accountability called orukurato on 22^nd November, 2014, the Kabarole district chairperson also apologized to the people of Kabarole for the poor state of the road networks.

Richard Rwabuhinga

“I need to apologise because our roads are not in a good state for instance Nyabukara – Harugongo road which we recently tried to work on but because of the heavy rains, the machines couldn’t effectively work on them. Kiburara – Geme, Kitarasa – Busaiga roads also have many potholes.” Said Mr. Rwabuhinga.

Listeners participated in the discussion through live call-ins and SMS for instance Kabadigidi from Mugusu Sub County appealed to the district chairperson to go to Kigaya and see for himself the poor state of the road.

Akugizibwe, a caller from Hakibaale Sub County requested the district chairperson for assistance to work on Kahangi – Kiburara road which is in a very poor state.

Edward, a caller from Kabarole district thanked the chairperson for coming on radio to give accountability and advised him to appeal to the minister of Local Government, Hon. Adolf Mwesige to lobby for improved funding to the road sector. Other listeners can also participate online via the orukurato facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451619451731153/

The orukurato live radio discussion which is held every Saturday of the week (08:00 – 10:00pm) and moderated by Kasigazi william is supported by ToroDev in partnership with Hits FM, SIDA and NED.