"This is the way to easy information sharing among district staff, the CSOs, the development partners and citizens”. This echoes the words spoken by a member of Kasese CSOs after a brief ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Kasese District Local Government and Rwenzori Information Centres Network (RICNET) on 26th Nov.2009 in the office of the Deputy District Chief Administrative Officer.
Within the spirit of Public private partnership operationalized by the district in 2006, RICNET is to kick-start the setting up of the District Information Desk that will be the ICT hub for Kasese e-society.
The e-society answers the issue of inadequate access to timely and relevant information, a key aspect that limits citizens' effective participation in the planning and monitoring processes in the district.
with RIC-NET's support, the district is to get a full internet connected resource centre (District Information Desk) comprising of twelve (12)computers, a multipurpose photocopier ( printer and scanner) and other tools, all valued at about Shs. 24 million.
The district will provide the physical space for the resource centre (under the District information office), equip the room with furniture, and ensure equipment safety, optimal use and sustainability.
The e-society establishment entails aspect as: training District local government staff and some CSO staff ( working in thematic areas of: water, Education, Health, human rights and good governance) in the use of information sharing platforms such as d-groups, blogs, wikis and other web 2.0 tools; Kasese CSO portal enabling CSOs to upload/share the information available at their specific offices, and a mobile SMS technology platform enabling the citizens to express their opinion/ feedback on pertinent governance issues to the District leadership.
The 24-months agreement, signed by the Deputy CAO Kasese, Willy Bataringaya and the Director RIC-NET, John Murugahara Silco follows a series of partnership activities between Kasese district and RIC-NET, such as a round-table dialogue meeting in July 2009, updating the district website (www.kasese.go.ug), and training some staff in web 2.0 tools, several weekly radio talk shows and thematic dialogue meetings. http://rwecovoice.blogspot.com
The e-society is implemented with financial support from the European Union (EU) and HIVOS; and with technical support from IICD.
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