Strengthening accountability and transparency for better service delivery

‘Better Life Youth Forum’ is one of the advocacy Forums that were formed by the 120 rural monitors who were trained by ToroDev in online advocacy, monitoring service delivery and using online social media tools like Ushahidi plat form for online documentation, visualization and mapping. The forum’s theme is “Strengthening accountability and transparency for better service delivery” with youths and women who demand for accountability and better service delivery from their local leaders in Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

Members of Better Life Youth Forum launched their forum on 15^th September 2014 at the Sub County Head Quarters of Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District and invited different local leaders who were able to give accountability to over 400 local citizens.

Leaders give accountability during the launching

 During the launching, Hon. Aston P Kajara, the Minister of State for Privatization encouraged the youths to start up projects for saving. “I encourage youths to start up projects so that they can get money for savings. Youths should engage in activities like piggery, coffee and tea planting. I will therefore support youths in starting up these projects by pledging one million for starting up a piggery project in Butiiti Sub County, and also pledge one million for buying coffee seedlings”.

Other leaders also encouraged youths to be innovative and also exploit the available government youths programs for development.  “I encourage youths to be innovative and avoid wasting time in gambling activities and peer groups. Youths should embrace the available programs like the Youths Livelihood Program and find ways of how they can develop from such programs”, said Hon Linda Timbigamba, Woman MP for Kyenjojo District.

The rural monitors also thanked ToroDev for the continued support to the advocacy forums. “I thank ToroDev for the continued support to Better Youths Life Forum and also request for enhancement of our partnership that will help us to improve on the services being delivered by our local leaders”, said Jane Ahaisibwe, the Chairperson of Better Life Youths Forum.

The accountability meetings are supported by NED, SPIDER/Stockholm University and SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using both physical and online platforms like accountability meetings, radio and social media to improve the participation of marginalized population groups of rural youth and women in governance in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

Local citizens of Kicwamba Sub County suffer poor roads

Local citizens of Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District are facing a challenge of the poor roads in their Sub County. The roads that are being used by lorries that carry pozzolana stones from Harugongo Sub County have failed to be maintained and are now so poor with a lot of potholes, and becoming impassable during the rainy season.

ToroDev's Recheal with a rural monitor at Kigeme road

Rural monitors of Kicwamba Sub County under their forum ‘Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery’ have used ICT tools like radios to advocate for better roads but all has been in vain. “We have gone on radio and appealed to different leaders both at the district and national level about the poor status of our roads, but their intervention has been poor. Some of the roads that are in a sorry state include Kigeme road, Kikonge road, Harugongo road, among others”, said Birungi Kenneth, a member of the forum.

The rural monitors have also approached their local leaders at the Sub County level to work on the poor roads. “We approached our LC1 Chairperson and discussed with him about the issue of the poor roads in our Sub County, but he said that the issue was beyond his powers. We went further and approached the LC III Chairman and some councilors, who later mobilized money from the drivers who transport pozolamma, and did spot marraming on some of the roads, but still they remained poor and impassable most especially in the rainy season”, said Rwaheru Gilbert, the Chairperson of the forum.

Rural monitors also indicated how the poor roads have affected transport most especially on farmers who need to access markets. “Farmers in Kicwamba Sub County are facing a challenge of transporting their produce like bananas, coffee, cassava, and sweet potatoes to the markets due to the impassable muddy roads that have a lot of pot holes. We are therefore appealing to our leaders to set a chargeable tax on every driver who transports pozolama from Harugongo so that these roads are maintained”, said Bebumba Bernard, a member of the forum.

The advocacy forums are supported by SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

The presidential visit to Kabarole District

On 27^th September 2014, the District Chairperson LCV of Kabarole District Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard appeared on HITS FM to discuss President Y.K Museveni’s visit to Kabarole District. “We welcomed the president and hosted him in Karambi Sub County where we presented to him our district memorandum. We showed him what we had achieved as a district and also the challenges that are hindering us from delivering better services to our people”. Hon Rwabuhinga was discussing on ToroDev’s live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a live radio discussion that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00-10:00) pm.

President Y K Museveni

During the program, Hon Rwabuhinga indicated how he showed the performance of the education sector in Kabarole District to the president. “I informed the president how Kabarole District was improving and performing well in education. I showed him schools that were under construction like Kitumba, Kahinju, Ibaale, Kibiito, Ruteete, among other secondary schools. I also showed him the challenges that we were facing like lack of enough class rooms and staff houses in most schools”.

Hon Rwabuhinga went ahead to indicate how the Youths Livelihood program has benefited youths of Kabarole District. “Ninety four youths groups have been supported in Kabarole District, under different schemes. Fifty four million shillings has been given to youths under the Youths Livelihood Support scheme, thirty seven million shillings given to youths under the Skills Development, and forty six million shillings given to youths under the Institutional Support. Youths are using this money to improve their incomes at house hold level. We also requested the president to build for us pol-technical institutions like Katugunda Vocational, Bishop Balya polytechnic, Uganda Martyrs polytechnic, among others”.

Meanwhile, Hon Rwabuhinga also indicated how he thanked the president for the tarmacked main roads. “I thanked the president for tarmacking most of our roads that connect to different districts surrounding us like Fort Portal-Bundibugyo road, Fort Portal- Kasese road, Fort Portal -Kamwenge road that is being worked on and Fort Portal Kampala Road. I requested him to also construct some of the roads that were doing bad like Fort Portal –Kijura road, Fort Portal Rweihamba road, among others, and he promised to work on them”.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “We also want to start growing tea”, said a caller from Rwimi Town Council, “We have a problem of lack of electricity in Kicwamba Sub County”, said  Steven from Kicwamba Sub County, “We thank the Chairperson for giving us accountability”, said Asiimwe from Kabonero, “Our road is so poor”, said Justus from Kabonero in Kibiito Sub County, “Our health center has no electricity”, said Wilson from Kabahango Sub County.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

Myeri – Kinogero Road affects agriculture in Katooke Sub County

Road transport plays an important role in agriculture development. This is because it is the major used means of transporting agricultural produce from farmers to the markets as well as to various urban centers. However this is contrary to the issue of Myeri – Kinogero road. 

Pupils of Kijugo Primary School use the poor road

Myeri – Kinogero Road was constructed in April 2014, however, the road did not last long before it developed pot holes. The road becomes impassable whenever it rains due to the many and deep pot holes, besides turning muddy and slippery. “The bad condition of Myeri – Kinogero Road has highly affected the cost of transportation on agricultural produce which in turn affects the rural farmers’ income”, said Bwambale James, a member of Katooke People’s Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

James also adds that the poor condition of the road has also affected the education system. “The impassable roads have also affected the education sector in Myeri because pupils and students miss school most times whenever it rains. They fail to pass through the muddy and slippery road, and even those who are able to reach school reach late. This problem is highly affecting the academic performance because even teachers have failed to access schools to teach whenever it rains. This problem has however opened our eyes to vote wisely next time, since our leaders have not done much to lobby for better services like roads”.

The advocacy forums are supported by SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

The sacking of Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi

On 20^th September 2014, panelists appeared on HITS FM to discuss the sacking of Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. “Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi is one of the founders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). He is someone who has served this country for some long time. Sacking him from his position as Prime Minister does not mean that he is no longer a secretary general of the NRM Party. Article 108 of the Ugandan Constitution gives authority to the president to appoint and reshuffle a Prime Minister”, said Hon Mashuhuko Joseph, a district councilor of Karambi Sub County, in Kabarole District.

The panelist was discussing on ToroDev’s live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a 2hr weekly radio program that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00 – 10:00) pm.

Hon Amama Mbabazi

The live radio discussion was also attended by Hon Prosper Businge, the District Councilor for West Division in Fort Portal Municipality who commented about the sacking of Amama as being time bound. “The time in which Hon Amama Mbabazi has been sacked is a time when we are approaching elections. All events that have been occurring in the NRM Party such as the Kyankwanzi retreat were enough to show that Hon Mbabazi had intentions of contesting for presidency. If Hon Mbabazi had resigned immediately after the Kyankwanzi resolution, he would have been a hero, but he wanted to maintain loyalty with the president”.

The two hours live radio discussion was also attended by members of Kabarole District Association of the Blind who discussed how they formed their association so as to raise their voices, lobby better services and also exploit the available opportunities.  “The Uganda Constitution gives us a right to enjoy freedom like any other normal person. We also have to be represented by leaders at every Government level, and also be recognized in government programs. Forming such associations has helped us to raise our voices to the government and leaders, and also improve on our house hold incomes”, said Mr. Paul Katiisa, the councilor for the disabled in Kabarole District.

Local listeners also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “I am happy that Hon Amama Mbabazi has been sacked because he has been giving wrong information to the president”, said Mwanguhya from Kyenjojo District, “The issue of disappointing the Prime Minister is associated with many things like corruption”, said a caller from Kyegegwa, “Amama Mbabazi was and is still a close person to the president, the president’s sacking him is just a political game that is intended to confuse Ugandans”, said Amanyire from Kyenjojo.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.

Rubango Primary School gets good facilities

Rubango Primary School is located in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District. The school holds a total number of over one hundred and fifty pupils with only six teachers. The school had only one toilet that was constructed by parents which was in a sorry state and being used by both teachers and pupils. There was also a problem of water access, as the school used a nearby swampy well. Rural monitors intervened to save the situation by using ICT tools like radios and phones to raise the issue to the concerned leaders. 

“Rubango Primary School was in a sorry state. We went on radio and talked about the issue several times appealing to different local leaders both at the district and sub county levels to intervene. We also used other plat forms like face book to post the pictures of the dilapidated structures. As I talk, two toilets have been built at the school, and also water has been connected. However, we are still going ahead to see that the school gets new buildings, because the existing ones are in a poor condition and not enough”, said Muzoora Godwin, the Chairperson Of Katooke People’s Forum in Katooke Sub County, Kyenjojo District.

ToroDev's M&E Officer Shilla Amanya at Katooke market

Rural monitors have also gone ahead to advocate for better services in Katooke town council most especially the market. “Katooke market attracts many local citizens from areas of Katooke Town Council, Kyarusozi, Muhoro, Mabira, and Bufunjo and among other Sub Counties. However, the market is in a poor state with poor market stalls and a muddy compound. The market also has a health problem with a two stance latrine that was constructed in June 2014, and is being shared by market vendors and the town council. ”, said Mujunju Francis, the Secretary of Katooke People’s Forum.

ToroDev's Shilla at the 2 stance latrine in Katooke T/C

Meanwhile, the rural monitors are also lobbing for better roads in their sub county. “Our roads are all poor apart from Myeri Road that was previously worked on. Roads like Nyakisi – Kisojo, Kafunda, Kinogero – Hamuzigiti, Nyamwandara – Kisangwa, Nyakisi – Rubango, Irara – Ikoba – Munjeru, Munjeru – Kabatooro are all poor with a lot of pot holes.  This is affecting the local people’s transport most especially farmers who are facing a hindrance of accessing markets. We have approached our local leaders and they are promising to work on some of the roads”, said Mugisa Innocent, a member of Katooke People's Forum.

The advocacy forums are supported by SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.