Districts resolve to sustain E-society Centres in Rwenzori region- Uganda

From a humble beginning of initiating E-society centres in the Districts as resolved at  the Kasese 2008 stakeholders roundtable  meeting, all the seven Districts of Rwenzori region (Kasese, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Kyegegwa and Bundibugyo) have established and  resolved to keep and sustain  the District ICT (e-society) Centres in absence of the initial support from HIVOS through RWECO/RIC-NET.
This resolution was reached as RIC-NET offered to the Districts the last cheques for supporting the e-society.

District staff in Bundibugyo e-society centre

All the Districts have appointed, on temporary terms, a staff to take care for the e-society centres paid  from the  District local revenues.

Though RIC-NET continued to offer technical support, internet bandwidth  and pay staff up to to March 2013, the Districts took over all other costs and eventually the staff salary and internet subscription from April 2014. In recognition for this effort, RIC-NET in partnership with RWECO offered a bridge up contribution of one million shillings to each District as a honorarium to their staff this financial year.

Hon. Rwabuhinga Chair Person LC V Kabarole receives a chegue from John Silco Director of RIC-NET

Deputy CAO Bundibugyo receives the Honorarium cheque

Mr. John Chief Finance officer and Mr. Shabani ICT officer Ntoroko

The Deputy CAO Bundibugyo District said that this contribution was timely and sign recognizing their efforts on sustaining the e-society centres. This was a good sign and prove of Public Private partnership efforts in the region.

Districts went ahead to lobby the Ministry of public service to take on the e-society staff as permanent District staff on government payroll. And so far, Kasese District has officially recruited the ICT officer, Ntoroko and Kamwenge have received a go ahead and they are yet to recruit the ICT officers. 

Other Districts have formally requested and awaits for the formal response from the Ministry of public service.

The e-society centres have not only become places for accessing information and sharing between District civil servants, CSO , youth and the general public; most Districts have used the centres  in skilling the youth with ICT and entrepreneurship skills. 

Girlssingle mothers or displaced by ADF rebels attack- training in ICT at Ntotoko E-society centre

Ntoroko District has so far trained over 250 youth and held a certificates award ceremony on 20th May 2014 presided over by the Chair person LC V Ntoroko District.

RIC-NET and CSOs   efforts to  initiate e-society centres follows the establishment of a network of  50 rural information centres in the most counties/ sub counties in the region that enables information access, documentation and sharing among the  farmers, youth, women. elected leaders and general public.

M John Silco of RIC-NET with some youth who trained at  Ntoroko  e-society centre

 E-society centres, Dynamic District websites, District e-libraries, District  online discussion groups coupled with sponsored radio programmes, web-sms based platforms and neighborhood  assemblies  has led to an effective convergence of several information accesss and dissemination channels leading to a relative quick feedback process among stakeholders. A success story of the collaboration between RIC-NET, CSOs and local government structures.