LT. COL. DULA MAWA KASESE DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON SCOFFS AT CORRUPT CONTRACTORS

" POVERTY IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT THE UNJUST SHARING OF PROSPERITY" MWALIMU JULIUS NYERERE

Armed with these words of wisdom of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, RWECO and the citizens of Kasese district have impacted on a series of social audit of social service delivery in the district. That was after a gender focused budget analysis of the Kasese district budget 2012/13 revealed that resources were not equitably distributed and works did not depict value for money in the district. Where did we begin?  Kisanga sub county Local Government was identified with several projects uncompleted in the last couple of years even the LCIII chairperson had summoned several contractors to answer queries of poor workmanship. During the district Budget Conference held in December, 2012, Lt. Col. Dula Mawa, vehemently scoffed at the contractors who collude with civil servants and vowed to kick out anybody found to  have engaged in works that led to the poor workmanship of service delivery to the people of Kasese. In  March/April 2013, a team of well experienced community monitors, information gatekeepers, staff of RWECO, the media and political leaders swung in action in Kisinga Sub county. The "KYAGHANDA KYABATAKA" neighborhood assembly in Kisinga sub county, had gathered enough evidence to question the poor workmanship on several construction works including, protection of water springs, access roads, foot path bridges- In the same NAs the   people with disabilities and the elderly  had made several calls to their leaders questioning why foot bridges did not cater for their specific gender needs!!!

Lt.Col. Dula Mawa, District Chairperson Kasese LG, listening to the plight of the PWDs during the Social Audit in Kisinga sub county, Kasese district

After the Social Audit and verification of the issues raised by the report by the neighborhood assembly and community monitors in Kisinga sub county, all citizens gathered in the Kisinga market to hear feedback from the leaders.

Lt. Col. Dula Mawa, responding to the issues raised by the neighborhood assembly in Kisinga sub county, Kasese district

Where is value for Money Mr. Chairperson? asked the community monitors report?

"We don't need to be experts to have learnt rocket science to identify poor workmanship: Power belongs to the people of Uganda and we are gathered here today to hear from you what the district has delivered to the people of Kisinga sub county"

The district councilor, Kisinga subcounty (left) leading the district chairperson- See how this was done, the PWDs had petitioned how they can cross the bridge

Kisinga Voc SS Students presenting a Poem on effective service delivery and the need for better education,  water, food and good governance in Kasese district

Good Hope for Rural Development, a member of RWECO  will follow up on the committments of the Kasese district chairperson and the LCIII chairperson Kisinga sub county. while the PWDs and elderly pledged to participate in the district and sub county planning and budgeting sessions to ensure that there is gender equity in the allocation of resources to their docket.


While in Kamwenge district, the community monitors petitioned the district speaker on why the several many uncompleted projects and the distribution of projects in the two counties of Kamwenge district " As community monitors through our different reports and neighborhood assemblies, we have realised that many projects are concentrated in part of the district, we need to know if that was why we voted in Office"

Hon. Gerald Twebaze ( left), district speaker, Kamwenge district, discussing the petition by the community monitors

As we prepare for the next financial year of government  2013/14, we need to put into consideration the issues raised in the petition, specifically let us as stakeholders study the issues and direct them to the concerned committee of council. KALI a member of RWECO attended the session and will keenly follow up the recommendations during the interface with the district speaker

Foot soldiers: Agnes (left) Isaac ( second Left) and Lt.Col. Dula Mawa, during the social audit of public projects  in Kisinga sub county, Kasese district

"Hakuna Kulala" until we bring sanity in social service delivery to the grassroots poor women and men who suffer because of the corrupt and non performing companies  contracted to do public works. At RWECO we believe in "Walking the Talk". During the Social Audit exercises in Kasese and Kamwenge districts, the citizens proved their  power by engaging with the elected leaders- Social Accountability must be top on the agenda of political leaders. The journey  ahead needs strong men and women who can give up their lives to bring back public trust in service delivery. Atleast, projects worth Ugx. 1.2 billions were monitored during the period of February-April, 2013.


RWECO Team:

Mr. Isaac Sinamakosa- GHFRD
Ms. Agnes Kyakimwa- RWECO
Ms. Sadress Kalengo- KALI
Mr. Jimmy Odyek- RWECO
Mr. Moses Ategeka- UBC-TV