Effective Monitoring & Supervision improves service delivery & accountability

ToroDev initiated advocacy forum groups in communities to help monitor service delivery aimed at improving services at community level. Todate we have 21 advocacy forums in different sub counties and districts of the Rwenzori sub region. The members of these forums get trainings from ToroDev where capacity is built especially in areas like minimum standards in health, education, etc which knowledge and skills help them to monitor services offered at Sub county level.

On 19^th April 2017, KRC Fm under ToroDev supported radio program ‘Manya Ekiragiro Kyawe’ that is aired live every Wednesday 8:00pm-10:00pm hosted the co-coordinator of Kicwamba peoples’ development forum & advocacy Mr. Rwaheru Gilbert who shared his experience and how his community has benefited in terms of service delivery as a result of advocacy & monitoring work done by the forum members.

Kaahwa Kansengerwa the program moderator

 Gilbert said effective supervision of government projects should be given priority by duty bearers if we are to achieve quality services and development. We move to these public offices and see how duty bearers conduct their business there, we need to support each other if we are to achieve development because as forum members we have done our role of monitoring how things are done and to some extent through the reports and engagements we get with top district leaders some improvement in service delivery has been realized. For example there was shoddy work being done by the contractors of Kicwamba-Harugongo road and when we realized that what was being done was not quality service and not in-line with the MOU signed between them and the district, we mobilized ourselves, went on radio and also wrote to the district chairperson who responded positively by coming on ground to see what was being done. Reaching the site he too realized that something was wrong and ordered the contractors to use quality materials for road construction, now we have a quality road which we are sure will take some years transporting goods and people.

‘’As a coordinator of the forum I take the honour to thank ToroDev for the skill imparted in us which we have used to advocate for better services and also monitoring the education and health sectors in the sub county and of us thank them for the radio programs & talk shows which have been used to inform and educate people on a number of development interventions’’, said Gilbert Rwaheru.

In coordination with the health management committee we have tried to lobby and monitor health service system functionality and Kicwamba health centre 111 now patients no longer complain of harassment by health workers and drug stock-outs. We have also engaged in sectors that help to support and transform our societies through lobbying for under performing sectors especially health, education, water, roads, economic development and there is positive change especially when we go on radios and point out the issues and responsible duty bearers they act positively which results into improved services for our citizens.

However, We still have problems with roads which are impassable and this has affected people especially those that engage in agriculture as an income generating activity, we therefore call upon the ministry of works and the district engineer to work hand in hand with the contractors so that they can improve on the road network in the sub county especially roads like Kigogo- Kibura road and Kisanga road, said Mr. Rwaheru Gilbert.

We still have challenges of regular supervision of inspectors of schools & SMC ‘s members in schools, limited scholastic materials, in active school management committees and parents teachers association, under staffing, school drop-out, etc all these have affected performance of learners hence poor results especially at PLE. We are trying our best as advocacy forum members to monitor and encourage sub county leaders to play their roles right in order to improve the education sector in our sub county and district as a whole, said Rwaheru Gilbert.

We take a great opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, and CIPESA for financial and technical support.

ToroDev printed and distributed IEC materials to promote the relevancy and visibility of the project in the region

Torodev with support from SIDA published and printed out calendars and posters for the year 2017 with the main aim of increasing awareness of what ToroDev does within its areas of operation so that they can increase information sharing among stakeholders and motivate advocacy forum members.  

ToroDev's Anselm Amanyire presenting a calendar to one of the advocacy forum members

 The IEC materials printed out will promote the relevancy and visibility of the project throughout the year and beyond this will raise the attention and interest of more citizens to engage in good governance processes to plan and monitor for improved service delivery.

It is also another way to increase citizen’s interests in following ToroDev’s projects and programs on promoting accountability and improving service delivery.

A sample of the printed calendars

We thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, CIPESA & all our development partners for the support.

ToroDev held a one day District LG-CSO's Forum workshop to present the Baseline survey report & Promote MML e-participation system

The workshop was held on Tuesday 28^thMarch, 2017 at Gardens Restaurant in Fort Portal with the aim of promoting the baseline survey and also validating the report, also to promote the MML e-participation system.

The main objective of this workshop according to SIDA project objective 3;  is to support the implementation of civic participation and complaints systems (crowd sourcing portals, SMS platforms, call center and public access centers) to promote monitoring and reporting on service delivery challenges and human rights violations.

The workshop was attended by 71 participants including key district officials i.e. DIOs, District speakers, Clerk to council, District planner’s members of CSOs, Media and advocacy forum leaders from Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Ntoroko districts

Participants listening to a presentation during the workshop in Fort Portal

 During the workshop the baseline survey report was shared to get recommendations from participants on additional features to include in the e-Participation system (MML). The system was promoted with an aim of generating appropriate data that gives a well-informed direction to promote citizens duty bearers engagement. Also MML is envisaged to be a citizen’s platform to air out their concerns on the status of service delivery and to provide duty bearers access to direct views & needs of citizens for better planning and budgeting processes.

 

Johnstone Baguma, ED ToroDev presenting the baseline report during the workshop in Fort Prtal

 For the last six months ToroDev’s consultant, Dr. Elly Gamukama, conducted research, designed and recommended a design of a system named ”Me and My Leader’ (MML) e-Participation system whose final stages of development are being worked on by a team from AfriTech.

Presentations were made by AfriTech an ICT company that developed the system, the presentation was mainly on what is made of the system and how the system will work to serve the people of Uganda and Nakuru County in Kenya.

Stephen Mugabe of AfriTech presenting the Features of the MML System before participants during the workshop

 After the presentations, participants had some recommendations that included:-

“We expect the system not to openly show the identity of everyone who sends the message for security purposes”. Kiiza Willy from Ntoroko district.

“More promotions and advertisements should be carried out to create awareness of the System”. Said Ategeka Christopher Rwenzori Youth Forum Kabarole District.

“Suggestion boxes should be set in different sub counties where citizens can drop their pressing issues especially those without phone”. Said Sarah from Kyegegwa   

“The system should be promoted in villages through village meetings and encourage youths to use it”. Said Kunihira Haruna life Fm

“The users of the system should be sent a notification message to acknowledge the receiving of after the message”. Said Jane, Kyenjojo district

“I thank ToroDev for taking this direction aiming at transforming societies and engaging duty bearers in our communities  we hope this will  improve service delivery in our  areas and I recommends ToroDev to fully engage the system to people who are on ground especially community groups”. Said Kule Vincent, Kabarole District.

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

ToroDev held a one day orientation training of Health Center Management Committees in Kyegegwa district.

The orientation training of health centre management committees was held in two training zones one at Kyegegwa district council hall and another at Mpara sub county hall on 28^th April 2017. Facilitators included Dr. Balinda Julius (DHO) Kyegegwa district, Mr.Businge Lawrence (DHE), Mr.Kandole Tedson (ADHO) Kyegegwa and Mr. Muhumuza Edward, the district Biostatician.

The orientation training targeted all 15 health centre management members from  Kyegegwa district  at HC II’s, III’s & IV located in the 2 constituencies of Kyaka North & South  where 89 participants attended of which 33  were females while 56 were males.

David Kugonza on behalf of Torodev while giving the objectives of the orientation training said as an organization we have held baseline survey and engaged with the district health officials, district health executive and the health centre In- charges to understand the gaps that exist in the work of health centre management committees especially in planning, monitoring, lobbying & advocacy for improved health care management systems.  David Kugonza who is the  Documentation & Communications officer at ToroDev further said, as an organisation we want to transfer knowledge to HCMC members in matters of health service delivery policies, NMSDS, advocacy using ICT, (online/electronic) drug stock-outs and monitoring effective use of resources at health centres, orientation of HCMC roles & responsibilities, explaining the existing policies on Health Care delivery system in the District, Information sharing and advocacy for improved health care system, using modern and traditional tools, etc.

 

David Kugonza, ToroDev sharing with participants the role of ICT & the Citizen's Advocacy Model used by ToroDev

The knowledgeable facilitators managed to handle a number of topics including; roles & responsibilities of HCMC’s, existing health policies in Uganda, monitoring effectively, information sharing & advocacy, budgeting processes, etc.

 ‘’This is a very important training where we are talking about management of health centres/units the fact that health centre management are important people in managing health services at the health centre. Now that you will leave after knowing each other’s roles better as far as improving health services in your area, i call upon you to take the lead to mobilize citizens for improved health services’’, said Dr. Julius Balinda, the DHO Kyegegwa while sharing the status report of the health centres in the district.

Dr. Julius Balinda, DHO Kyegegwa making a presentation during the HCMC orientation training

 “The key roles of HCMC are 4 planning first for the health centre, monitoring what you planned for; monitor the performance of approved budget, reporting as another key role and advisory role’’,  Said Mr. Kandole  Tedson, the ADHO Kyegegwa district. Mr Kandole added, when it comes to reporting the member must provide correct information to the community, and to the council regarding the health facility, before you report make sure you have correct information to share.

‘’We thank ToroDev for supporting this training of HCMC’s and you as members for attending. We are here for a role as members of health center management committees we should listen and understand so that we can be able to work with technocrats, monitor health service delivery and also share information with citizens on matters related to health services if we are to have better health services as a district’’, Honourable Nimpamya Daniel, the vice district chairperson while giving opening remarks during the orientation training at Kyegegwa district council hall.

Hon. Nimpamya Daniel the vice chairperson Kyegegwa district giving opening remarks on behalf of the district chairperson during the orientation training

At the end of the orientation training some members acknowledged learning new things and pledged to implement them in order to improve services in their sub counties; ‘’This training has equipped us with knowledge and skills and we are going to work with the In- charge so that we can equitably be in position to do what we are required to perform for better improvement of our health centers’’, Said Edward Rugumayo from Wekomire health center III.

Participants committed to re-structure these health center management committees so that they can come out with potential members who can work for people. This will help to improve health services because they will have committed people to do the voluntary roles and they suggested to link up with the In- charges to know the planned targets of each health center in order to help them monitor effectively.

Mr. Bwogo August the Chairperson Board of Directors, ToroDev making sharing with participants on behalf of ED ToroDev 

They also pledged as another action point to carry out community sensitization meetings and mobilization on health indicators, monitoring of health service delivery at health centers, conducting HCMC meetings and forming whatsapp group to improve their communication levels all aimed at improving health services in the district.

We take a great opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, and CIPESA who have supported us financially and for the technical advice to keep our people informed.

ToroDev held a Baseline & Needs Assessment Report Validation Workshop in Northern Uganda

For the last six months ToroDev’s consultant, Dr. Elly Gamukama, conducted research, designed and is in the process of developing an application named ”Me and My Leader’ (MML) e-Participation system. This is aimed at generating appropriate data that gives a well-informed direction to promote citizens’-duty bearer’s engagement. MML is envisaged to be a citizen’s platform to air out their concerns on the status of service delivery and to provide duty bearers access to direct views & needs of citizens for better planning and budgeting processes at district level.

On Wednesday 19^th  & Thursday 20^th  April, 2017 ToroDev held validation workshops at Gracious palace hotel in Lira & Free Zone hotel in Gulu respectively with an aim of assessing the validity of the baseline survey carried out in the region and also promote  MML e-participation system features before the participants. Participants in these workshops included district local government officials both political & technical, members of CSO’s, media & respondents from Apac, Lira, Gulu & Kitgum which districts were sampled to implement the project in Northern Uganda.

ED ToroDev Johnstone Baguma presenting the Baseline & Needs Assessment Report

The baseline survey findings were presented by ToroDev executive director Johnstone Baguma while the MML e-participation system features & promotion was done by Stephen Mugabe of AfriTech, a company contracted to design, implement & promote MML system. The presentations were basically on the status quo of ICT use in the areas where baseline survey was done and also a demonstration of what the system will do in line with improving service delivery. The MML e-participation system will be implemented in Rwenzori region, Northern Uganda and Nakuru County in Kenya.

Mr. Mugabe Stephen of AFRITECH presenting the MML e-participation System features

 Out of the 57 targeted participants, 52 attended the 2 workshops where 20 were females and the rest were males.

Some of the issues suggested by participants includes:-

“We expect the system to keep the identity of the person who sends the message and validity of the information sent is really important before the information is published online”.

 “There is need to advertise the system, let everyone understand how it will work and also involve duty bearers for they are key in decision making’’. Said Sam Jamara the coordinator Apac NGO forum.

“Suggestion boxes should be encouraged at all service delivery points for the users that have no phones especially in villages also the system should be promoted in village meetings & to farmers in villages for everyone to benefit’’.  Said Bill Oketch of Monitor News paper based in Lira district.  

Participants in one of the workshops listening to a presentation

 “The system should send messages to personal phones so that every person can actively participate on on-going discussion topics and also involve local government officials not forgetting the cost of internet being high in the country which to some extent affects participation. This will help citizens to be aware of the on-going discussions which accelerates their participation’, said  Owuru Kibwota the clerk to council Gulu district.

Gulu district speaker Hon. Okwonga John giving closing remarks at Free Zone Hotel in Gulu town

“I thank ToroDev for taking this direction aiming at transforming societies and engaging duty bearers in our communities. The report presents the situation in our areas although we need to work hard to achieve community participation because it is still lacking in our programming.  We hope this will  improve service delivery in our  areas and I recommend ToroDev to fully engage people on ground to the system especially organized groups of say women, farmers, youth, persons with disabilities, etc’’. Said Ceaser Komaketch the district planner Gulu.

We are grateful to SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA & all other development partners for the financial and technical support aimed at improving service delivery in communities.

ToroDev carried out a Needs assessment Baseline survey on the status of health centres in Kyegegwa district

As a way of improving the health sector in the 4 sampled districts of Rwenzori sub region, ToroDev in partnership with the initiated advocacy forums to monitor and advocate for improved health services in the Rwenzori region. ToroDev will in April 2017 build capacity of health unit management committees in Kyegegwa district but before conducting the training it carried out a needs assessment baseline survey to understand the situation of these health centers and also find out the challenges affecting effective performance in order to forge a way for improving the health sector in the district.

The interaction with health officials and health center in-charges plus chairpersons of health unit management committees was done at Kyegegwa health center IV, Wekomire HC 111, and Kakabara HC111.

ToroDev team  interacting with chairperson Health Unit Management Committee Mr. Magezi Ernest during the baseline survey in Kyegegwa district

During the baseline survey the main concerns raised by health department officials & health center In-charges was the need to train health center management committees since there are new members on the committees hence need to orient them on their roles and responsibilities. It was also found out that, Health Center Management committees play vital role which includes supervision during visits to provide feedback and solve problems affecting the health centers, planning, making decisions, monitoring, reporting, lobbying and advocating for quality improvement in health services among others hence need to carry out the induction/capacity building training of these committees.

Kakabara HC III in Kyegegwa district

 ToroDev team with the In-Charge Kakabara HC III  Ronald  Mugabe during the Baseline Survey

The baseline survey was done with an objective of training 150 members of Health Center Management Committees (HCMCs) in sampled poorly performing districts as far as health sector is concerned in the Rwenzori sub-region, western Uganda and after the training we expect to see 150 capable members of HCMCs in HCIV’s & III’s actively participating in planning, budgeting, monitoring performance and advocating for improved healthcare service delivery systems both offline & online, 150  HCMCs  aware of their roles, rights & responsibilities, 150  HCMCs aware of  health  act and Health code of conduct for health workers, Improved Lobbying   and advocacy for the  HCIII by the HCMCs, poor service delivery issues affecting health centres/units addressed by leaders as a result of HCMCs interventions and also service delivery issues raised by the HCMCs aimed at improving health services in their health centres/units.

We thank all our development partners SIDA, SPIDER, NED, ICT4DEM & CIPESA for the financial & technical support to have these projects.

Promote Private Sector for Development

 ToroDev has for the last 11 years engaged citizens to participate in governance issues in the Rwenzori region and this has been done through the use of ICT’s. In partnership with radio stations, citizens have had engagements with duty bearers and transparency & accountability has been improved in communities.
On 15^th April, 2017 during our weekly radio program (Orukurato) that is aired live every Saturday 8:00pm- 10:00pm on Hits Fm, the moderator engaged listeners through call- inns & Sms platforms on how service delivery can be improved together with how economic development can be achieved to improve citizen’s lives.
About 40 people called in and 30 sent Sms messages; ‘’For people to be economically empowered, they need to have good health, hence we need to strengthen our health sector by improving the anomalies existing in our health units for example drug stock-outs, human resource, infrastructure, etc’’, said Fred a caller from Mwibale in Kabarole district, ‘’our education system need to be changed for it is a big concern to community development where for example today it prepares people to be job seekers other than job makers, we need to improve on the facilitation with our schools especially by having trained teachers, scholastic materials, etc if we are to improve & promote the education sector’’, said Mr. Aliganyira Chris a caller from Kicwamba Sub county in Kabarole district, “Uganda bureau of statistics should check out the standards of industrialization and producers to improve the quality of their products & services and also provide information services on all matters related to standards of products that are imported and exported, this will help to boost private industries in the country’’, said Justus a caller from Kabonero in Kabarole district”, “The government of Uganda should improve  private sector  because it can largely be  seen as  an   engine of growth and poverty control, it’s a sector government  should work   hand in hand with  private investors if they are to improve on Uganda’s economic development  considering the number of people employed per year’’, said God Njura a caller from Kakabara in Kyegegwa district’’,“Infrastructure such as roads, rail, airports, water transport, electricity are significant elements of  a country’s  economic development,  the government and  all duty bearers should work hand in hand so that they can work on them and this will help in boosting other sectors like agriculture since it employs many Ugandans’’, said Deo Mugisa a caller from Kabarole district.

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