COMMUNITY MONITORS IN KYEGEGWA DISTRICT TASK LEADERS TO ACCOUNT

" As district leaders of Kyegegwa, we have noted with concern the level of misuse of public funds and how defilement had affected the implementation of the UPE Police" Vice District Chairperson Kyegegwa Mr. Amanya Latif Ibrahim, noted during the District dialogue meeting held on 17th Oct. 2013 at Kyanyambali Primary School in Hapuuyo Sub County.

Mr. Amanya Latif Ibrahim, District Vice Chairperson LCV, responding to concerns of citizens during the district dialogue meeting held on 17th Oct. 2013 at Kyanyambali primary school in Hapuuyo Sub County

The community monitors presented a report that was compiled after a joint monitoring of service delivery in the Education, NAADS, water and Sanitation Sectors.

Ms. Mbabazi Edna, community Monitor Hapuuyo while presenting the monitoring findings during the district dialogue meeting held on 17th Oct. 2013

The monitoring findings were presented by Ms. Mbabazi Edna who reported that, the community monitors had a joint monitoring exercise with the local leaders and compiled a report that among other issues highlighted the following:
1. Visited 12 service points in the education sector and found out that, UPE funds were being released but the Head Teachers were not displaying the funds as required by law, thus the team was concerned about the head teachers who do not display the funds, at least Ugx. 20,000,000/ had been released to schools in Hapuuyu sub county but observed that they were no accountability by the head teachers in terms of effectiveness of teachers, child learning and parents participation; the parents had not fully participated in the learning of their children and had not contributed lunch for their children;

2. In the NAADs sector, the community monitors established that the beneficiaries were not aware of the funds released under the Naads program in the Sub county and district, the beneficiaries only minded about what they were told to budget for. It was also observed that, Hapuuyo sub county had not fully displayed Naads funds as required. The team established the district had released funds to the sub county in July 2013, but farmers had not all benefited. 

3. On Governance, the community leaders reported that, Police had not assisted in handling defilement and other capital cases in the district. In Hapuuyo alone about 5 serious cases of defilement and incest were reported to police but no action was taken; also the LC1s who were voted in 2001, were non functional and yet they received bicycles, the team also noted that the flag bearers who were voted in their political parties had assumed leadership without the law allowing them, that some of the flag bearers in Kyegegwa district had LC1 stamps;

4. Engineering and Works- the team observed that construction works of UPE schools was not done according to the required standards. It was reported that a contractor had not included the APC while constructing a school, bridges were breaking during rainy season and most rural road had become impassible.

Response to the above observed issues by the community monitors the District Vice Chairperson LC V Mr. Amanya, noted that, Kyegegwa district was faced with many challenges and it was a responsibility of all stakeholders to monitor and protect public resources. The chairperson directed that all Naads funds be displayed and pledged to meet the district education Officer to write a circular clarifying on the UPE funds display in all offices.

Other resolutions made were:
The District Naads Coordinator to also display all funds disbursed to sub counties by end of November, 2013
A special meeting be organised where other reports by the community to be presented and the District Chairperson, RDC and Heads of Department present;
Sensitization of the parents and teacher about the issue of Lunch for pupils- a suggestion was made for parents to pay their contribution in kind since it had become had for them to pay in cash;
When PLE results are released, a summary be made by the DEO's Office for the stakeholders to compare with other districts since the district had planned about Ugx. 4billion in the education sector for the year 2013/14;
Service delivery in the district be made a priority instead of spending time on politicking who will stand in 2016- more youth be engaged in productive work;
 The district road unit be scheduled according to the sub counties neighboring each other to reduce on costs since government had allowed force on account policy.

Thanks

Ms. Erina Kahunde- RIDE AFRICA
Ms. Mbabazi Edna- Community Monitor