PICTURE STORY FEBRUARY 2013

RWECO Staff sharing a moment at Kikorongo Equarter line after a heavy days work Feb 2013:

Mainstreaming community tourism in governance

RWECO staff at Kikorongo Queen Elzabeth Information Center Feb. 2013 appreciating community tourism and tracking the Queen Elizabeth II journey in 1954

‘PWDS’ in Kaberamaido unearth anomalies in Supply of Desks during vertical tracking

The old adage that, “never judge a book by its cover” could make more sense now at this point in time than before as the vulnerable persons take on vertical tracking exercise in Kaberamiado. In fact, the others will also believe that, “not all that glitters is gold” after the findings of the exercise in vertical tracking. PAC –U in TESO conducted a simultaneous exercise of training the vulnerable groups (PWDS) in neighbourhood assembly business in the five districts in their TESO operation area. They also prepared them for vertical tracking exercise in the services’ delivery in their sub counties where a report would then be shared with the authorities in the district but first in their neighbourhood assembly.

The day was 15^th February, on a hot Friday when the vulnerable Persons with Disability were attending the training on Neighbourhood Assemblies in Alwa Sub County Kaberamaido District. The members were excited to learn among others that issues to be discussed in their NA could sometimes emanate from their vertical tracking exercise. The Sub county chief welcomed them to the office where they were able to gather information concercing various services the Sub County was involved in. They were informed of the funds that were received in the previous financial year - 2011/12 and as well as expected for this financial year – 2012/13. In their wisdom, they decided to take on the area of education where the sub county authorities informed them that they had procured 40 desks for three schools (Oyama Eolu P/S, Oriamo P/S, Katingi P/S) at a cost of 3,398,699/= under financial year 2011/2012. A team of four members was chosen to carry out this exercise and report to the rest on their subsequent meeting.

On an agreed day 16^th/ 02/ 13, the four members committee together with the CEW-IT officials headed for the three schools that had benefited under the programme. When the team visited the first school, they noticed the supplier had signed in the visitor’s book as having delivered 12 desks which the school authorities acknowledged having received. However, on the inscription on the desk, by the supplier was “supply of 37 desks 3 seater to Alwa Sub county FY 2011/12 By Doma Eng. Works”. At this point the team was face to face with the reality of vertical tracking as the numbers were already varying as of the Sub county and the Supplier. Meanwhile, the team went on with the head count of the desks and all the 12 desks were realised.

On the visit to the second school, the team noticed that the supplier had signed to have delivered the same 12 desks similar to the first school. The Head teacher in the school consented having received them. However, this time the head count only realised four exposing eight to missing in the school. At the same time, a new and serious issue was unearthed concerning value of money. This was the fact that among the four, one of them was unpalatable for use as the top was already off yet in the same class desks delivered under SFG FY 2003/4 were still intact as if they were new.

A visit to the third school, confirmed that the supplier had signed to have delivered 18 desks which the authorities conquer with. The team went a head to count the desks and only realised 11 yet none had got spoilt or any thigh of the sort as from the reports. The desks which were made for three seater were found to be seating on average 6 small kids and 5 medium sized pupils.

All in all, the team revealed that where as the sub county authorities claim to have procured forty desks, the supply claims to have supplied 37 as from his inscription on the desk while the beneficiaries attest to  receiving forty two desks but the head count realised only thirty five of all these. The social accountability questions at this point become many but just a quick one and probably the first would be, which of these figures is the correct figure and therefore telling the truth and what the value for money in this project to the common citizen. These were part of the question to be pondered on during the NA and the dialogue at the district and the sub county. 

Accessed from email by Celestin Mugisha
CEWIT

KABAROLE DISTRICT REAPS BIG FROM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSEMBLIES

On 1/02/2012 I set with the team of four staff from Ride Africa, RWECO and CEWIT   for a joint  monitoring visit and  our first stop point was a group meeting at  Busoro Christian women group of 35 members in Busoro subcounty had recommendable achievements in one year of existence and promoting service delivery in  Busoro subcounty.  In their report it was key to note that the group led a crusade to follow up a defilement case with support of RIDE AFRICA where the defiler was arrested and the girl enrolled back in school.  It was rather a new experience that a women’s neighborhood assembly invited the MP Burahya county, Hon. Stephen Kasaija Kagwera,  the Chairperson LC III Busoro subcounty and all LCI-II  to discuss   the plight of poor performance in the schools of Busoro subcounty especially at HOPE primary where the neighbourhood assembly meetings often take place. A  resolution was passed with the support of the leaders for all parents to pack school lunch for their children. That was  empirical evidence that explains the improvement in the performance of P.L.E results for 2012 at Hope primary school where the school attained 32 first grades out of the 42 pupils who sat for primary leaving examination compared to 2011 where the school only attained 5 first grades. The group attributes the good grades to intervention of the parents by providing lunch to the pupils, constant PTA meeting, follow up of teachers and school management meetings that were revived.  Their efforts resulted into an exchange visit for neighborhood assembly members and the head teachers to Harugongo primary school a UPE school which was performing better  and had  65 first grades in 2011. The exchange visit was facilitated by the Hon. Stephen Kasaija Kagwera, MP Burahya County.

On the same day we had a meeting with 9 monitors of Busoro subcounty where one of the monitors  proudly  reported  that was elected  Chairperson Busoro Sub county Water board because of his  commitment in monitoring water service delivery.  The strategy of inviting the subcounty leadership in the subcounty sharing meeting was  unique as they become part of the team and  are prompted to  address the concerns of the community. The monitors reported that the health Unit management committees and the water user committees have been retooled on their roles and responsibility  and  can now work with them  to monitor service delivery in health and water sector thus reduced shoddy work and neglect for service points. It is pleasing to note that a nurse who was reported as absconding from duty during the public expenditure tracking has been replaced at Rwengaju HC II. Visiting the subcounty headquarters, the chairperson LCIII  Busoro subcounty noted that RIDE Africa a member of RWECO should be applaud for the improved performance in Busoro subcounty as he described it as  the other eye and hand of the subcounty leaders  and felt  indebted  to them because of  their  efforts in  identifying  service delivery gaps in the district.

My visit to south division in Kabarole district seemed like reading a fiction Novel,  Imagine seating on the fire place every Sunday evening to discuss issues that are affecting service delivery with some MDD to do the infotainment. That I thought ended with the generation of our grandparents. With lots of doubt about the strategy the group chairperson  Zebidayo was proud to inform me that MDD had proved an effective strategy for Toro cultural Research and development Group that doubles as a drama group and a neighborhood assembly  with support from RWECO through RIDE AFRICA. Some of their notable achievements were sensitizing the community of water source management, advocating community participation in the government processes.

All I can say is kudos to Kabarole district especially south Division and Busoro subcounty leadership. We as RWECO we also feel indebted by your generous support to our program.

By Sheila K
RWECO

Training of District Leaders in Luweero yields

District leaders in Luweero district have embraced the “Enhancing civic competence for social accountability” project after acquiring skills in the use of e-libraries and websites.

Meeting the Chief Administrative Officer Luweero District Mr. Kyoma Christopher Sunday, he thanked and welcomed the initiative to the District. He also said that most people neglect these online platforms yet they add value to the districts. He wished the facilitators a happy stay in the district.

FHRI's Rose and DIO Luweero shortly before the training

The two days training that ran from 13^th -14^th February 2013 was held at the District Local government headquarters in Luweero. In attendance was the District Information Officer, the Health department bio-statistician, the senior records officer, training coordinator Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and the ICT personnel FHRI.

In her opening remarks the training coordinator FHRI welcomed all the participants who had turned up for the training and requested them to embrace the skills and use them effectively. The District Information Officer Ms. Stella also thanked the initiative by FHRI and RIC-NET through CEW-IT for such wonderful opportunity to Luweero district and promised total cooperation throughout the project since these online platforms would increase the visibility of the District and easy information sharing.

Training session in progress

The facilitators from RIC-NET went ahead and started training in different ICT fundamentals and hands on practices. The two days interactive training left participants with skills in web site and e-library updates.

Despite of the interrupted power cuts, we managed to handle the training through improvising by the District administration.

The officers also promised to avail the necessary information for the website as soon as possible. The site will be online as soon as possible when the data is availed by the concerned parties. The District electronic library is however already online at http://elibrary.luwero.go.ug .

Hands on Session

Speaking to one of the participants after the training Mr.Bonju said that the training was beneficial “It has been a nice training we have learnt of new skills however we need more of these hands trainings as we start updating these platforms” he said.

Ms.Nakibuka stella also confessed that she had benefited a lot “the training has been beneficial, skills have been acquired however there is need for back up support in case anything goes wrong” she added.

The training ended at 3:00 pm on the second day and departure was at leisure.

Trainees doing it themselves

Community WASH Empowers 380 Households in Kasese District

SNV in partnership with Kasese district local government, UNICEF and Embassy of the kingdom of Netherlands is implementing a 3 year community empowerment programme. The programme addresses key components of Water sanitation and hygiene at school and community level.

KALI was hereby contracted as a local capacity builder (LCB) in close partnership and collaboration with Kasese district local government is implementing the School and Community Water, sanitation and hygiene program. The CWASH is implemented in two sub counties of Nyakiyumbu in Lyakirema parish and Bwera in Kisaka parish focusing on the Kalarieke Gravity flow scheme.

The overall goal of the Community WASH component of the programme is to improve community-based rural livelihoods and development, thereby contributing to increased access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

 The components under this are; (Planned)

• 25 existing community water points are functional

·         25 water user groups with YahuraYahuza - "Save and Borrow" (YY) saving and lending scheme for community financing of community-based water source maintenance system

·         5,663 HHs with access to safe sanitary facilities and practicing improved hygienic behaviours

• 5,663 HHs with improved hygienic behaviours and safe water chain practices

Communities in Bwera S/C trying out on a hand washing machine in 2012

The activities and Results done under this include;

·         Training Karalike GFS in water policy issues. Water policy issues were discussed by the district water engineer and this meeting enhanced behavioural and attitude changes.

·         Follow up meeting on the resolutions made in the water policy training. this meeting triggered the water BOD to;

ü  repair some leakages on the scheme,

ü  repaired 5taps that had problems (Bisika tap,Mubutu tap,Mutubya tap,Tibiyaro tap and Nyamughona P/S tap)

ü  Paid some arrears of the scheme attendant and,

ü  Mobilized water users for increasing WUF from 500= to 1000= to effectively facilitate the O&M of the scheme.

·         Multi-stakeholders meeting on the operation and management of the scheme. 38 participants (10 females & 28 males) from the two sub counties attended.

·         Training tap stand communities on strengthening the O&M, introducing the ‘’YY’’ (YehuraYehoza) strategy. 259 participants (112 females & 147) were reached in the two parishes of Lyakirema and Kisaka.

·         Commissioning of the scheme and hand over to the sub county authorities. This meeting was attended by ACAO Mr. Bihanikire Godwin, LCV was represented by Councillor Bugoye sub county,Tender board was represented by Moses, in attendance were also C/man works committee and the two sub counties were represented by political leaders.

·         Training VHTs/hand washing ambassadors on Sanitation and Hygiene to be promoted to the water users.

Action points under this for follow up in Jan-feb.2012

ü  Mobilize H/H without latrines to construct by end of January 2013

ü  Follow up TPC and council of Nyakiyumbu for resolutions on latrines in the cotton belt

ü  Health assistant Bwera sub county to develop monitoring plan for sanitation & Hygiene at h/h and will be accompanied with sub county secretary for social services.

ü  Collect data on hand washing facilities by end of Jan.2013

ü  KALI to support VHTs in triggering CLTS by end of feb.2013.

COMMUNITY WASH

Outcome 1:

% of functional community water points at the time of spot check.

1.    Out of the 7 villages in Kisaka parish, 3 are not connected to GFS. While in Lyakirema, 2 out of the 8 villages do not have access to the flow

2.    Out of the 4 tap noses vandalized by the community 3 have been replaced by the water BOD. This was as a result of the follow-up meeting held in June 2012 by KALI and SNV.

3.    3 out of 7 tap stands which had been non-functional due to poor positioning on the main pipeline have successively been corrected and are now fully functional. The water BOD is in the process of working on the remaining 4 tap stands.

4.    In Kisaka parish, 7 taps are functional, 1 of them was repaired.

5.    Whereas Lyakirema parish, 3 taps fully functional, 11 partly functional and 4 non functional (25 taps)

6.    3 of the tap stands that had not been working before have been repaired by the new water BOD as a result of SNV and KALI sensitization and support.

Parish	Functional taps	Partly functional	Non functional	Total
Lyakirema	03	11	4	18
Kisaka	5	2	0	07
Total	08	13	4	25

3 of the tap stands that had not been working for so long have been repaired by the new water BOD as a result of the interactions we held with them.

% of water points with functional water user committees

During the MSP meeting on the O&M of the scheme, we found out that only 4 of the 25 taps stand committees were functional. However, 9 of these had problems of some committee members not being active, other members migrating from one place to another, while other committee members are demoralized by the un frequent functionality of the taps and or lacking mobilization platforms for the communities.

Name of Tap	Active		Sex of com. members		Funds collected	Remarks
	Y	N	M	F	yr 2012
Ndanda		ü	4	2	35,000=	Tap C/man not active
Nyamughona  T/C	ü		3	3	35,000=
Nyamughona primary		ü	3	3	10,000=
Kisandu		ü	4	2	15,000=
Kato Joseph	ü		2	4	25,000=
Ventino		ü	2	4	7000=	Tap on & off
Paskali/Kyaghanda		ü	3	3	5,000=	20 cups of beans collected as user fee
Mbinga Tap	ü		1	5	25,000=
Namugongo		ü	3	3	5,000=
Muduha	ü		2	3	60,000=	Tap breaks due to high pressure
Kayibindulha		ü	3	3	21,000=
Bisika		ü	2	4	15,000=
Mubutu		ü	3	3	5,000=
Binayisa		ü			6,500=	Males on water committee not active
Nyakasojo Primary school		ü	3	4	5,000=	One teacher   member to committee
Sayuni		ü
Kiduvente		ü	3	3	13,000=
Kahangwa		ü	2	4	10,000=
Byamaka		ü
Muthubya		ü
Benezeri		ü	3	3	13,000=
Mithimusanju		ü
Kanyabungu		ü
Burahimu		ü
Syaipuma		ü
James tap		ü
Total					310500=	Collections for year 2012

The water committee members have been re mobilized and revitalized during the tap stand community meetings and are awaiting training. And from these sensitization meetings, all the 25 committees have started collecting the O&M funds which will be paid to the Water BOD before the close of the year 2012.

% of Water User Committees with clear mechanism for collection and utilization of the O&M funds

Out of the 25 tap committees, none of them had clear mechanisms of collecting WUF. O&M funds were being given to the scheme attendant and any other person on the former BOD. It was only through the multi-stakeholder platform and the community meetings that have specified roles of different stakeholders in the scheme. The new C/man BOD Mr. Siriyako has through SNV and KALI’s mentorship introduced a receipt system. Each person paying user fee will be issued a receipt at all levels. (From the water user, tap stand committees and BOD)

10 out of 15villages from the 2 parishes have been reached with YY information. This being new anew approach, action plans have been made to start implementation. It is through follow up that KALI shall ascertain how far this has been adopted

How many households have access to safe water?

According to the hand over report presented by Mr. Patrick Syayipuma the Kasese district assistant water engineer, Karalike GFS originally served population of 4,608 people in 576 households, 5 primary schools with a total population of 2770 pupils.

Additionally, during FY 2010/11 an extension was made from Nyamughona to Mithumusanju was done with a provision of 4 taps serving a population of 700 people. However, the households here are to be established soon. Therefore when some of the 52 tap stands are finally corrected, the scheme will serve a total number of 5308 people.

Specifically, for Lyakirema and Kisaka parishes, the total number of water users will be established through tap stand committees by the end of Dec.2012.

How far are the water sources from the village, how are gender issues being addressed? What is our role?

7.    Out of the 7 villages in Kisaka parish, 3 are not connected to GFS. While in Lyakirema, 2 out of the 8 villages do not have access to the flow

8.    Some villages like Nyamighere is big and has only 3 taps. There are 2 fully fledged more villages without access to water. This coupled with irregular flow of existing taps in the 2 parishes; women’s traveling long distances for water is still registered in Nyakiyumbu and Bwera hence calling for SNV and KALI’s advocacy on scheme extension.

The issue of gender has been given an affirmative action. This is enhanced through emphasizing 4 women representative out of 6 be elected members on each of the 25 tap stand committees.

% of Water User Committees with implementing mechanisms for collection and utilization of the O&M funds.

As result of SNV and KALI’s intervention, several meetings have been conducted focusing on strengthening the O&M of Karalike GFS as well as improving sanitation & Hygiene in the same area since February 2012, sub county leaderships of Bwera and Nyakiyumbu have been supportive. Below are mechanisms put in place by the stakeholders.

ü  Each house hold to pay WUF of 1000= every month

ü  Out of the 1000= WUF per month, 700 will be remitted to the water BOD and 300 shs will be remaining at the tap stand committee for managing.

ü  Bye-laws at tap stand community level. eg; Home visit by tap stand committee members to the defaulting water user.

ü  Issuing of receipts for WUF from individual h/h, tap stand to central BOD.

ü  Central Water BOD bye-laws. Example; if a water user defaults 2months without paying WUF, is reported to the area C/man LC I.

ü  Cooperation of Kasese district local council system with the GFS BOD from LCI, LC III and LCV. To support water related bye-laws.

During MSP on the scheme O&M held on 21 Nov.2012, tap stand C/persons aggregated their user fee collection since Feb. 2012 as; 310500=however, this figure was not collected in an organized system. Especially with the old water BOD before June 2012.

The newly elected BOD has initiated new payments model of issuing receipts for WUF from tap stand level to central water BOD so that the scheme management is enabled to function effectively

Currently, there is no any WUF fund in liquid form. During community meetings, most of them were pledging to pay by this month (December 2012)

Outcome 7:

% of targeted HH adopting appropriate technologies (e.g. ECOSAN)

% of HH with access to hand-washing facilities and tippy taps.

Following MSP facilitated by SNV/KALI in conjunction with Ass. district water engineer, action plan to train VHTs was drown and this was conceptualized on 12 dec. when MSP on sanitation & hygiene was conducted and facilitated by SNV. Objectives of the meeting were;

1.    To share the basics on CLTS with the VHTs and extension staff and agree on the roll-out plan.

2.    To discuss the safe water chain and hand washing options and agree on strategies for promotion in the communities.

Kasese district local gov’t was represented by the district health educator. In his remarks, latrine coverage at district level is at around 72%. He added that the district has been promoting water purifying methods like use of; water guard, aqua safe etc. to help reduce chances of cholera, dysentery and un usual diarrhea. He called for combined approach to sensitizing community members on sanitation and hygiene since several methods has been employed but cholera still breaks up in the district. However, he declared the district free of Cholera.

This meeting was also attended by the C/man LCIII Bwera S/C. he thanked SNV and KALI for the efforts in promotingsanitation& hygiene. The tough speaking c/man in his remarks asked participants to get more serious with their hygiene. He posed a question! How can someone come from outside the district to come and tell you to clean your home? He said health issues are no longer going to be taken like people in ‘’OMWALIKO’’ literally meaning people in the after burial meeting where they talk issues and end with little emphasis on action.

The C/man instructed assistant to give ziro tolerance to any individual without a latrine. It will be a jail case, “after all my police is new at station without work I will utilize it this time” he revealed that on 17^thdec. 2012 their will be council meeting and that the health assistant should come with S&H household monitoring program for council approval.

Action points drawn during the S&H meeting.

ü  Mobilize H/H without latrines to construct by end of January 2013

ü  Follow up TPC and council of Nyakiyumbu for resolutions on latrines in the cotton belt

ü  Health assistant Bwera Sub County to develop monitoring plan for sanitation &Hygiene at h/h and will be accompanied with sub county secretary for social services.

ü  Collect data on hand washing facilities by end of Jan.2013

ü  KALI to support VHTs in triggering off CLTS by end of feb.2013.

Recommendations:

1.    KALI has set the ground on CWASH project activities in the parishes of Kisaka and Lyakirema. There is need to affirmatively step up sensitization using theatre foras like; music dance and drama to promote Karalike GFS ownership and sanitation and hygiene by the community in the two sub counties-Bwera and Nyakiyumbu.

2.    More is still needed to sensitize for YY strategy. During the community meetings, some groups urged that 5 people had committed suicide due to challenges associated with savings.

3.    There is need to train water user committees to help them acknowledge the purpose for effective collection of WUF funds in ensuring perfect O&M of the scheme.

4.    The action points drown during the S&H meeting above should be given immediate follow-up in January 2013.

By: Scovia Masika and Geofrey Bwambale
KALI