Ntoroko District Councilors Speaker out on the CM Agenda

“Working with the grassroots people has always been our driving force but since we have challenges of funding our development partners come in to bridge the gap” ( The Vice District Chairperson, Ntoroko  asserted at the leaders meeting held at Karugutu TC hall, 25^th April, 2012)

Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition (RAC) together with Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) organized a roundtable meeting with the district leaders of Ntoroko whose major aim was to present the Citizen’s manifesto agenda for the leaders to adopt and buy in. During the meeting that was attended by the RDC and DISO Ntoroko who applauded RAC and RWECO for bridging the information gap between the leaders and the citizens reiterated the governments  support to the CSOs to deliver services to the people . On her part, the RDC Ntoroko, said “I support this initiative by RAC and I remember during the presidential and parliamentary campaigns leaders were tasked by the CSOs to buy in the citizens manifesto, now I see these CSOs coming back to make follow up with the elected leaders, I will use my Office to pass on the citizens manifesto message to the people of Uganda” after the comments by the RDC the participants at the Karugutu round table meeting challenged RAC on how this same CM could be taken to the public and other district leaders that had not attended the meeting. The District Vice chairperson, while reacting to the issue raised by RAC, asked RAC and RWECO whether they could attend the district council meeting in May, 2012. This RAC and RWECO followed by writing a request letter to the Speaker of Ntoroko district council. The golden day was scheduled on Friday 11, May, 2012 the year of our Lord.

The way to Ntoroko District headquarters. RAC and RWECO were in constant exchange of emails regarding the best package to present in the district council on Friday 11, May. Oh my God, checking the achieves, the presentation made during the leaders roundtable meeting and the CM popular version was retrieved and Ms. Jackline Aturinda equipped with these instruments headed to the council hall in Kibuku, Ntoroko district headquarters. The speaker announces those invited to present and waiting my name to be mentioned, I heard “ we have a presentation on the citizen’s manifesto from RAC” excited on how I will do my homework, but trust, I had all the tools given the grooming I went through at RAC and RWECO on the CM agenda.

Honourable speaker madam, was my opening word… “ I have come to present to this august house the CM agenda as agreed upon during the leaders round table meeting………, the CM is a tool that will help council to achieve its mandate and deliver on the government manifesto” did you know that I for got to say I beg to ‘move’. In unison and being mentored  ( Jackline) to be the next speaker of “Parliament”, the speaker received the presentation of RAC and noted that  she would first study the CM agenda and allocate the document to committee of councilors to scrutinize the document and give the feed back to the council before it can be adopted as a working document of the council. That the feed back of the council resolutions would be given to RAC thereafter.

The lessons I learnt from the  two activities in Ntoroko were so touching and I  now believe that working with the policy makers can take the CM agenda reach the communities given that each councilor who attended these activities pledged to work to make the CM agenda part of his/her community work. What can RAC and RWECO do to popularize the CM in partnership with the local leaders. Right from the words of the RDC Ntoroko, and the DISO, CSOs are better placed to mobilize resources to make the Local Governments deliver on their mandate but only needed guidance to appreciate government operations.

I therefore call upon other CSOs in the region to join hands and support the call by the Ntoroko leaders to organise a meeting  for all CSOs working in Ntoroko as resolved in the leaders meeting of 25^th April, 2012.

I welcome you to our CM day in Kibito subcounty, Kabarole district on   24^th May, 2012

By Jackline Aturinda
Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition (RAC)
www.racuganda.org