Citizens of Bufunjo Sub County suffer road blocks imposed by the police

The local citizens of Bufunjo Sub County in Kyenjojo District have increasingly suffered road blocks that are imposed by the police. “On Monday 14^th October 2013, the police in Bufunjo Sub County set up road blocks on different roads to forcefully get money from the local citizens for building a police station. These road blocks caused accidents, paralyzed people’s businesses and also disrupted people’s movements”, said Tibeeha John Bosco, the secretary of Bufunjo People’s Forum in Bufunjo Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

While appearing on the Listeners Forum live radio discussion, at Better FM on Sunday, 20^th October 2013, John Bosco appealed to the local leaders to stop charging local people money that they are not supposed to be charged. “Charging local people money that they are not supposed to be charged is denying them their rights and imposing them to sufferings. It is not the duty of local people to build police stations and this is not their priority. There are people’s priority needs such as roads like Bikoma and Bitonga that are in a sorry state and health centers like Bufunjo Health Center III that has only one ward that is shared by men, women and children with over a population of thirty nine thousand (39,000) patients on a yearly basis”.

Panelists during the live radio discussion

Other participants who appeared on the live radio discussion were Solomon Akugizibwe, Media and Communications Officer at ToroDev and Muntu K Willy, a local citizen of Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko District. 

During the discussion, Mr. Akugizibwe indicated how radios had done a very big impact in improving service delivery in Kyenjojo District. “Kahompo Bridge on River Kahompo in Bufunjo Sub County was disrupting people’s movements with floods. Farmers could not market their produce and the affected places had no schools and health centers and also remained un developed. But when the rural monitors came on radio and talked about the issue, a bridge was constructed. However, shoddy work was done on the constructed bridge because cracks have already developed on the culverts that were fixed”.

The 2 hour program was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred who also allowed local citizens to participate in the discussions through call-ins and SMS.

“Corruption among the local leaders on taxes collected creates a lot of debts between Uganda Revenue Authority and local governments” Magezi Wilsnob.

The local leaders of Fort Portal Municipality in Kabarole District have indicated that the high rate of corruption among the local leaders on taxes collected has created a challenge of debts between Uganda Revenue Authority and the local governments. This was during ToroDev’s supported live radio discussion on HITS FM called “Orukurato Program” on 19^th October 2013. The 2 hour weekly radio program discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm).

The topic for discussion was “Accountability and service delivery in Fort Portal Municipality, Kabarole District”. Panelists who participated in the live radio discussion included Hon. Tinkasiimire Aramanzan the Chairman LC III West Division, Hon. Mugisa Herbert the Chairman LC III South Division and Hon. Magezi Wilsnob the Chairman LC III East Division all in Fort Portal Municipality Kabarole District.

A statue of Sir Gerald Portal in Fort Portal Town

During the discussion, the local leaders discussed the achievements that they had brought to their Sub Counties ever since they started their term of office. “Kagote Health Center III did not have enough staffs and also a maternity ward. I raised the issue to the government and more staffs were recruited to the health center and a maternity ward was also created. We have also lobbied for bore holes in places like Nyabusozi, Muhoti, Kagote and Kyamukerege for people who cannot afford paying tapped water distributed by National Water and Sewerage Cooperation”, said Hon. Tinkasimire Aramanzan.

 “We have tried to make community meetings through which we inform parents to be responsible citizens and embrace Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education by sending their children to school. We have also lobbied a maternity ward and Art Clinic for HIV canceling and tasting at Kasusu HC III. NAADS program has also been improved through setting up advisory services at Sub County level and also supplying seedlings for food security, cows, goats and pigs to different groups”, said Mugisa Herbert the Chair Person LC III South Division.

Meanwhile, Hon. Magezi Wilson went ahead and discussed the challenges that hinder local leaders from delivering better services to their people. “We do not have enough funds to deliver better services to our local people. The highest money that the government sends to our sub counties on a yearly basis to work on the roads is twelve (12) million yet it costs thirty (30) million to construct one kilometer of a road”, said Magezi Wilsnob.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Kasigazi Willy Donanto.

“Radio discussions have helped us to raise our issues to the concerned local leaders”, Mukwano Ssenyonjo

Local citizens from Kabarole and Ntoroko Districts have indicated how radio discussions have helped them to raise their issues to the concerned local leaders for better service delivery in their sub counties. While appearing on ToroDev supported accountability live radio discussion on Better FM called the “Listener’s Forum” on 13^th October 2013, the local citizens indicated how radios have helped them to demand for better services from their local leaders. “Radio discussions have helped us to raise our issues and ask the concerned leaders to intervene”, said Mukwano Ssenyonjo, the Chairman of Peoples Rights and Forum for Development in Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District.

Mr. Mukwano went ahead to discuss the qualities of a good leader who can lobby for his or her people. “A good leader should not be a ruler, he should listen to his people’s issues and lobby for better services, be transparent and give accountability to his people. Most leaders have become corrupt in their offices, they lobby funds for their own mutual benefits and fail to deliver better services”.

An accountability meeting at Mugusu Sub County, Kabarole District

Other participants who appeared on the live radio discussion were Nasan Bwambale a local citizen from Nombe Sub County and Mathe Moses a local citizen from Karugutu Town Council, all in Ntoroko District.  

During the live radio discussion, the local citizens appealed to their local leaders to improve road service delivery in their sub counties. “Most of our roads are impassable due to the flooding rivers whose bridges were constructed badly. Itule – Nombe Bridge was constructed poorly. The fixed culverts are too small compared to the volume of water and instead, water flows on top of the culverts. The District also brought culverts on Wasa - Banawa Bridge in Kyabandara Parish but these culverts are still on sight and have never been fixed. We mobilized the community and made a temporally bridge on River Wasa that is being used by people only”, said Nasan Bwambale from Nombe Sub County in Ntoroko District. “Nombe road is very poor because of River Wasa that floods due to the small culverts and this has highly affected our transport and markets”, said Maate Moses from Karugutu Town Council, Ntoroko District.

Mean while, Mr. Mukwano also discussed the status of service delivery in Mugusu Sub County. “Most roads in Mugusu Sub County are poor and impassable during the rainy season, such roads include Kibona – Kasusu road, Kaboyo – Kyezere road and Kabagona road. There is also understaffing at Mugusu Health Center IV , most of the staff were recruited to other health centers and no new ones were brought in”.

The program was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred who allowed the local citizens to participate in the discussions through call in and SMS.

Citizens discuss ICC and Governance

Citizens from the Rwenzori Region have appreciated the role of the ICC in reducing impunity among African leaders. Currently, the ICC is trying the Kenyan President and Deputy President on crimes relating to the Kenyan 2007 electoral violence. Uganda’s rebel leader Joseph Kony was also indicted by the ICC.

“The ICC is a good initiative because African governments are not fair to their citizens because they protect the perpetrators of crime. Besides, their justice system is also weak and biased to offer any fair justice.” Said Rubombora Dan while discussing ICC and Governance in Africa on Saturday, 5^th October 2013 on Orukurato radio talkshow at Hits FM, Fort Portal.

Uganda's Joseph Kony was indicted by ICC

The live radio discussion which discusses issues of governance and supported by ToroDev was also attended by Baguma Johnstone of ToroDev and Gowan Yakub who is an expert on governance.

“People have misinterpreted the court (ICC) as a court aimed at targeting African leaders, but Arap Sang of Kenya and Ntaganda are not government leaders. Many Africans are indicted because of so many conflicts in Africa compared to other parts of the world.” Said Johnstone Baguma.

Baguma adds, “Our Judicial system is weak and therefore, the international court helps to compliment it. The ICC is helping our developing world to stop conflicts and create a peaceful world.”

Yakub appealed to leaders from the powerful countries in the world to leave the ICC do its work independently so that it can have more credibility, “ICC is good but world powers are using it to achieve their own personal interests.” Said Yakub Gowan.

The two hour weekly live radio discussion held every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00pm) was moderated by Kasigazi Donanto.   

Kamwenge citizen highlights the state of service delivery in the district

A local citizen from Kamwenge District, Western Uganda, Ntawangwa George has highlighted the state of service delivery in the district showing poor service delivery in the priority sectors of education, health, roads and water. Ntawangwa was appearing on the Listenership Forum on Better FM on 06^th October, 2013.

“Kamwenge District has no district hospital which was one of the pillars of the decentralisation policy in Uganda. Out of the fifteen Sub Counties, only six have a health centre III. Besides, in the existing health facilities, there is poor service delivery.” Said Ntawangwa.

Kamwenge District Boundary Post

Ntawangwa adds, “Recently at Rukunyu Health Centre IV, a mother died while giving birth because she didn’t find medical workers at night. Another woman also died recently while giving birth at Kamwenge Health Centre III because there were no medical workers to attend to her.”

The Listeners Forum Live radio discussion which is always held every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00pm) was discussing service delivery in the Rwenzori Region.  The discussion was also attended by local citizens from Bukuuku Sub County in Kabarole District.

Ntawangwa also highlighted the state of service delivery in water and sanitation, roads and education sectors.

“Despite the district acquiring a grader from the central government, many roads in the district remain impassable for instance Masyoro – Mpara road. Water is also a problem and a danger to people’s health. In Kamwenge Trading Centre, water is on and off, besides there is no laboratory to treat water making typhoid the leading cause of death in the district.” Said Ntawangwa.

Kamwenge district is also facing detoriating services in the education sector since the district has no technical school when it’s a government policy for every sub county to have a technical school. Many government schools also lack appropriate infrastructures like classrooms, “Kamwenge Primary School buildings were condemned by the district engineers. However, there are no new buildings constructed and therefore students have no classrooms to study from.” Said Ntawangwa.

The live radio program which is supported by ToroDev is moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred.

ToroDev staff receives training in using media for development

ToroDev Media and Communications officer, (Solomon Akugizibwe) has received a training by Radio Nederland Training Center (RNTC) on Using Media for Development which will assist ToroDev strengthen the implementation of its projects on service delivery monitoring and entrepreneurship development especially financial literacy using the media.

The specific topics of the training included an insight into how NGOs can best use media and collaborate with local media in the interests of development, understanding the characteristics of print, broadcast, online and social media and their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Solomon, receiving his certificate from the RNTC Director

Others are an overview of theoretical models underpinning the design and use of media formats to inform and educate specific target groups, working knowledge of the media content producer’s toolkit and hands-on practical experience of devising and making a short multimedia story.

“I will build the capacities of local institutions through training on how to effectively collaborate with the media to have a better impact. I will also train radio journalists on broadcasting better stories which can persuade and change attitudes of their target audiences.” Said Solomon Akugizibwe

The two weeks long training course that was held at the RNTC training center in Netherlands from 16^th – 27^th September 2013 also attracted participants from Kenya, Nepal, India, Nigeria, Tanzania, Vietnam, Pakistan, South Africa and Netherlands.

“Radio discussions have helped us to give accountability to the local people”, Speakers of Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko District.

Speakers of Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko District have indicated how radio discussions have done a big impact in bringing leaders on board to give accountability. While appearing on ToroDev supported accountability live radio discussion on Better FM called the “Listener’s Forum" on 29^th September 2013, the speakers thanked ToroDev for the accountability radio discussion.  

“I thank ToroDev for the Listener’s Forum that has engaged leaders to give accountability on radio. As local leaders, we would not have afforded to buy time on radio and give accountability, but due to this support, we are able to come on board and give accountability to our local people”, said Hon Muntu K Willy, the speaker of Bweramule Sub County, Ntoroko District. 

Listener's Forum Face Book page

 Hon Willy went ahead and discussed how the radio programs had created awareness among the local people who lacked information access. “People of Bweramule Sub County and Ntoroko District have got awareness about the sub county leadership. We recently had an accounting officer who was corrupt, but when we came on radio and discussed the issue, the local people helped us to approach the District Chief Administrative Officer about the issue. A new accounting officer was recruited to the sub county and now proper procedures are being used when handling sub county funds”.

Meanwhile, Hon Mugisa Kassim, the deputy speaker of Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko District also participated in the live radio discussion by appealing to the local people to always monitor the services delivered in their sub county. “I appeal to the local citizens to always monitor any substandard work done in Bweramule Sub County so as to have value for the tax payer’s money. I thank Ntoroko Citizens Concern Advocacy Forum that has really done great work in monitoring services and demanding accountability from the local leaders”.

During the discussion, the speakers also discussed the challenges that they face in bringing better services to the local people. “Most of our local leaders are corrupt. They do not give accountability on taxes collected from markets and funds allocated for road maintaninance yet the roads are very poor. Even the money that we get from the central government is not enough because it is sent in intervals”, said Hon Mugisa Kassim, the deputy speaker of Bweramule Sub County, Ntoroko District.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mukonyezi Wilfred.