Effective land use management a responsibility for all stakeholders

Given the background of Uganda being a back bone of Agriculture, it is said that over 80% of the citizens in this country practice agriculture as an income venture. Of recent there have been issues with land management where we see evictions, encroachment of wetlands, etc imparting more on the environment yet the concerned authorities who would be helping in sensitizing the masses on sustainable land management are the culprits in land mismanagement.

Toro Development network through our weekly radio talk shows have tried to sensitize the masses on issues that concern them and those that affect service delivery to have views from citizens on what needs to be done before calling the attention of the duty bearers.

 On 2^nd April, 2017 through our weekly talk show (Listeners’ forum) on Jubilee radio that is aired every Sunday 8-10pm we hosted Mr. Nyemera Trevor the vice chairperson for Kiguma parish in Bukuuku sub county Kabarole district where he urged duty bearers to take serious land issues for they are affecting economic development in the community. The issue of land is pertinent for it facilitates livelihood, production, economic transformation, etc hence we need to work as a team as leaders in communities to solve the issues on land if we are to accelerate development in our communities. 

‘’Land is increasingly becoming an important governance issue in our country due to the increased population in Uganda and it has resulted into conflicts in the region since some investors and other  individuals  are taking peoples land something that has increased land wrangles in our areas especially people who are not compensated when for example government is setting projects like roads, schools, factories, etc, this has increased poverty & instabilities’’, said Mr. Nyemera Trevor.

Trevor said duty bearers need to commit themselves in solving land issues by looking into the structures so that the issue of ownership and compensation are addressed. He said this will help in land governance & rights issues that protect individuals hence improving the economic status and increased house hold income.

The two hours live discussion was joined by listeners from Rwenzori region and more than 30 people called in and 12 sent Sms; “What is happening now in Uganda is about massive land grabbing  by different  class of people over small farmers  and poor people, government should come up with laws that favor land owners to help the common person’’,  said Charles from Kibito Kabarole district,” land wrangles have increased insecurities in Uganda and in our region at large but members of parliament should first come on ground and get views from the electorates before they pass land laws’’, said Isazi lyabato from Kahangi  in Kabarole district , ”Duty bearers should protect their people since they represent them at different levels especially at parliament because they play a big role in discussing & passing laws that govern the country’’, said Akiiki Mary from Kyenjojo district, “The government should come up with strict laws and technical reforms restructured with ideas from people on ground, this will help both land owners and investors both from private and government sectors,” Said Bagonza Dickluck   a caller from Kyenjojo district.

We thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all other development partners for the financial and technical support to run these programs.

ToroDev in Partnership with Rwenzori Journalist Forum held a one day knowledge sharing workshop with the Rwenzori journalists on post election reporting and broadcasting on 23rd March,2017.

ToroDev in partnership with Rwenzori Journalist forum organized a one day knowledge sharing workshop on 23^rd March, 2017 where 22 journalists mainly news editors and print reporters and reporters from the 14 local radio stations located in the 4 districts of Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge and Kasese with others from different print and electronic media (New Vision, Daily Monitor, TV etc) attended the workshop.

The main objective of the training was to refresh journalists (news reporters,  news editors and print reporters) with the basic skills that will enable them  do their  watch-dog role in a professional way during post elections period. Also  to empower  and orient journalists with the requisite skills on how they can  report issues in a professional way especially during post election period, code of conduct, their roles and responsibilities and peace, conflict and development reporting  policies on health , education  etc aiming at improved service delivery etc.

“Media  plays a vital role in providing information to people, media educates the public on public information and many citizen rely on information provided by media, so as ToroDev we want journalists to have a value in improving service delivery, we ensure development of communities and we are going to critically evaluate the role played by the journalists who have  attended the workshop, we shall form cluster to see how best we can  monitor services for improved service delivery.” Said Johnstone Baguma ED ToroDev.

ED ToroDev Mr. Baguma K. Johnstone giving his opening remarks during the workshop

Johnstone added I thank all journalists for the work done in engaging leaders to give accountability on different radio station ,however I call upon all journalists with in our region to use their professionalism to lobby and advocate for better services in various sectors .

“This workshop aims at equipping you to clearly identify important issues that we need to concentrate on during the Post election period, especially code of conduct, developmental reporting, peace and conflicts reporting and how best to engage duty bearers to  fulfill in the pledges they make during radio discussions”. Said Mr. Tumwine Henry the facilitator of the workshop.

Mr. Tumwine Henry sharing with journalists during the workshop.

“During this period journalists should not insight violence among the citizens, especially in Kasese and Bundibugyo, we should promote peace not violence, we should write articles to encourage tribes to respect and love one another, so journalists mind what you report”. Said Miss Enid Ninsiima the facilitator during the workshop

Miss Enid Ninsiima  sharing sharing with journalist during the workshop.

“We appreciate ToroDev for taking us through some of the policies that are key in our daily work, we have knowledge and we hope to share and educate the policies for them also to understand them”. Said   Musimenta Kenneth from Jubilee fm

“We get political issues but same times we are stopped to follow them up due to fear to be harassed by the leader involved”. Said Ruth Katusabe reporter NTV.

“Same journalist are money minded and this has affected much  of this profession , they report issues according to who has called them for the story and how much  the work is played, but we thank ToroDev for this workshops we hope to change and improve in our professional work.” Said  Baguma Tobias fisher a reporter  voice of Toro.”

Honorable Rwabuhinga Richard LCV chairperson Kabarole district  while giving  closing remarks at the workshop he thanked ToroDev for the support and equipping knowledge  the journalists with knowledge  in peace and conflict reporting, developmental reporting , code and conducts and I believe our journalists are more informed now. Kindly go and practice what u have learnt today and develop our region, ToroDev thank you for supporting the Government of Uganda

Hon.Richard Rwabuhinga giving final remarks during the workshop.

We are grateful to SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all other development partners for the financial and technical support to run these programs.

The role of Lower local Councils towards improving service delivery in communities

Uganda last held LC 1’s & 11’s elections in 2001 meaning it is over 15 years now Uganda has failed to conduct elections of LC 1’s & 11’s despite their role in the community. This is something that depicts the country’s democratic levels yet these people play big roles towards mobilization of our communities towards development.

These were words from Ms Nyaakato Rusoke the regional chairperson for the Forum for the Democratic Change (FDC) when she was hosted alongside the executive director Toro Development Network Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki, Haruna Kibirango the Kabarole district Democratic Party (DP) chairperson & Robert the FDC secretary for Kabarole district. The panelists were hosted to debate on the topic; Postponement of LC 1 & 11 elections in Uganda, what are the challenges?. They were hosted on 24^th March 2017 at Hits Fm during the ToroDev supported ‘Orukurato’ program that is aired live every Saturday 8:00- 10:00pm.

LCI and LCII chairpersons play a vital role in our country and communities by engaging in different activities like settling grievances of land, domestic violence, theft, community roads maintenance and many others that contribute to enabling peace and development hence improving service delivery. Said Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki.

We know community leaders as people who mobilize communities for various development activities and now that we do not have legal leaders at village and parish level, the leadership is weakened and something needs to be done to increase participation of citizens in development of their communities. Said Haruna Kibirango, the Democratic Party chairperson Kabarole district.

There is need for a collective voice from the citizens of this country to put the issue of LC elections to the attention of members of parliament for it to be recognized as a vital issue in this country. The government is giving excuses of nit having money to carry out the exercise yet if they can allow the lining behind of the candidate, it can reduce costs involved in conducting the exercise and also avoiding unnecessary exercises which the government is spending on despite other important ventures like holding LC elections, added Ms Nyakato Rusoke.

The two hours live discussion attracted callers from the seven districts of Rwenzori region and over 50 called in; ‘’How can the government plan for people at ground level when they don’t have leaders at community level?’’, asked Yasin from Kamwenge district, ‘’ if the government is aiming at improving services at village level then  LC I and LCII election should be conducted ” , said Mr. Businge John a caller from Busoro in Kabarole district, ‘’village leadership is important for security of community members & development we request the government to do whatever it takes to hold these elections’’, said Margret Kisembo a caller from Ntoroko district, ‘’People should put pressure  on their leaders so that elections can be conducted and this will play a role towards development & improved service delivery at community level’’, said Monday  a caller from Kyenjojo district.

We take a great opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all our development partners for the financial & technical support.