THE TASKS AHEAD AS THE 2016/17 BUDGET TAKES SHAPE IN UGANDA

December 1st was another big stride in the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) in Uganda when the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development budget desk team sat together with  CSBAG team to defend the CSBAG budget proposal in the 2016/17 FY. RWECO as a member of CSBAG was represented in the round table discussion that were held in the MoFPED board room and chaired by Mr. Kenneth Mugambe the Director Budgeting, while the CSBAG team was led by Mr. Julius Mukunda.
 

CSBAG team and MoFPED team after the meeting on December 1st, 2015 at MoFPED board room, Kampala.

 While the  rest of the world was commemorating the World Aids day,   CSBAG team was also busy defending why government of Uganda should create an HIV/AIDS Fund to ensure proper planning and service delivery in the sector. The Director budgeting applauded the CSBAG team for their tireless efforts in ensuring budget monitoring and going ahead in participating in the budgeting process. Mr. Kenneth also alluded to the fact that CSOs are mandated by law to participate in the budget formulation but most often others have stayed away by only critizing other than being part of the budgeting and planning processes right to the local government level.

CSBAG budget priorities were: Education sector  and critical focus on the school enrollment at primary and secondary, hygiene and sanitation,  while in Health the priority was functionality of health centers, in Agriculture sector was extension services which was suspended after government shifted from the NAADs model to the operation wealth creation model. 

As CSBGA did not only present budget proposals also a look at the tax/revenue was presented which prompted the budget desk team to proposal a a committee to look at the revenue proposals presented by the CSBAG.

While was  good for citizens to participate in policy formulation, engagement with policy makers has remained minimal and for the urban elite, the rural citizens are not bathered with policy formulation but at the end they are the most affected people given that they depend on government services. RWECO has changed the trend by engaging with top government policy makers in collaboration with the Kampala based partners.

At RWECO we believe that through participating in the budgeting processes, our aim for a pro-poor budget shall be achieved as our voice is being reflected in the budget priorities.

Keep watching this space

Jimmy B.O
RWECO

RWENZORI REGION INNOVATES IN PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

We all believe children are innocent thus should be protected by the community but gone are the days while society looked at children as sign of wealth instead society has looked at children as agents of getting rich thus the increased violence against children and adolescents evidenced in the Rwenzori Region since the conflicts of 1996 emanating from the attacks by the ADF rebels now based in DRCongo.

RWECO staff and Board at the EACF inception meeting on 5th Nov. 2015 at Virina Gardens, Hotel, Kasese Muncipality

Civil society has not looked as children are abused, Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) with support from the East African Children's Fund (EACF) has launched a project on community-led mechanism to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese district targeting 16 schools in 8 sub counties. RWECO is a membership organisation of KALI, GHFRD, RIDE AFRICA & RICNET. RWECO has also partnered with Kasese Guide Radio (KGR) to deliver on the media component of the project. A total grant of Ugx. 300m has been extended to RWECO and her partners for a period of six months. Practically, Violence against children is on the increase due to the changing society values including lack of economic empowerment by the women, increasing informal crossborder trade, family breakdown, high population pressure on limited resources land in particular, single parenthoods, salt mining and lack of information gaps, early marriages and drug abuse among the adolescents in Kasese district.

The project will apply community-led mechanisms and innovations to engage with women and the youth at community and schools levels, local leaders and also use radio drama as a means of reaching out to the wider public.

The project will share information concerning child rights and responsibilities, speak to the children, encourage participation of children in school activities like debating, organise a first ever children's parliament in Kasese district that shall be attended by all odds of children from all corners of Kasese district.

RWECO and her partners shall keep you updated on this platform

Compiled;

Margret Kidima
RWECO

PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE: DIGNITY FOR ALL

A UN resolution established the International Day of Peace in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982 and was held on the third Tuesday of September each year until 2002, when September 21 became the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. The assembly decided in 2001 that the International Day of Peace should be annually observed on September 21 starting from 2002. By setting a fixed date for the International Day of Peace, the assembly declared that the day should be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

Based on the above, RWECO together with the member organizations have joined the rest of the citizens of Uganda to commemorate the International day of Peace under the theme of: Partnerships for Peace, Dignity for All. The week long events begun on Monday 14th- 21st Sept, 2015 when the climax of the events will take place in Mbarara District. 

Let us talk peace with leaders of Cultural institutions in the Rwenzori Region 17th Sept. 2015 at virina Gardens Hotel, Kasese Municipality.

The Prime Minister (OBR) in blue neck tie and Kasese district vice chairperson ( yellow neck tie) front line pose with the OBR cabinet during the meeting at Virina Gardens 17th Sept 2015

Peace building is a process and requires a multi sectoral approach involving all stakeholders which was a motive for RWECO and KALI to meet with leaders from Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu to dialogue on how Cultural Institutions have ensured peace building amongst  their subjects and national building. In the Rwenzori region, three meetings will be held targeting the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Obukama Bwa Tooro and Obudingiya Bwa Bwamba. 

The Prime minister (OBR) Rt. Hon. Nzaghale was the main presenter at the meeting with other OBR ministers contributing to the discussions. The participants came up with a seven point action plan among which were: Training of the OBR peace committees, Setting up a peace committee to handle post election activities, Holding a cultural gala in April 2016, Language promotion and research on culture, promotion of co-existence, inducting appointed leaders and Sensitising communities on the cause of OBR. At the same the Kasese district vice Chairperson Mr. Tadeo Muhindo echoed the government commitment on peace building and conflict management as enshrined in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.

RWECO Team:

Jimmy B.O
Margret K
Dolice K

CITIZENS IN KAYUNGA INTERFACE WITH MINISTER TO QUESTION THE LAND ACT OF UGANDA

The community citizens of Kayunga District invoked chapter one of the Uganda Constitution to interface with Hon. Sulaiman Madada, MP, and State Minister for Gender on Tuesday 26th May, 2015. The Citizens under the KYATTO Neighborhood Assembly organised an "International" branded  NA that was held at Kakokotalisi Primary School, Kawolokoto Sub county, Kayunga District. The NA was attended by CEWIT partners from South Africa and The Netherlands. The NA main agenda was on the land question that had remained a big threat to livelihoods and food security and governance  in Kawolokoto Sub county.

L-R, UNATHI (SA), YOSIEN (NL) Hon. Sulaiman Madada, Benson members of CEWIT attending the KYATTO NA on Tuesday 26th, May, 2015 at Kakokotalisi Primary School, Kalowokato Sub county, Kayunga District.

In the background above are about 600 citizens who attended the neighborhood assembly and fully participated in asking the MP and Minister about the status of their land in Kayunga district for which many people had been displaced.

A skit by the KYATTO NA portraying the Land question in Kayunga district

 The NA developed a skit on the  land question in Kayunga District and how a local council one chairperson had connived with one investor to grab their land and lease it without their knowledge. The community urged they had lived on the land for the rest of their lives and their ancestors were buried on the said land. The local leaders challenged the community to prove ownership of the land despite the fact that they had lived on the same. Later, the local leaders called in an NGO to come and educate the masses on land rights and the processes of proof of ownership of land in Uganda. Later,  after the play, the people were give time ask questions in line with the play and for the Hon. Madada to respond to.

An old women who asked the Hon. Minister about the status of the people were are waiting eviction to pave way for sugar can plantation in Kayunga district

During the discussions, Hon. Sulaiman Madada responded the the citizens and based himself on the law governing land in Uganda.

Hon. Sulaiman Madada, MP, Minister of State for Gender- Elderly and PWDs

In his response the Minister was quick to trace the land wrangles right from the time of colonialism until Uganda made its new Constitution that placed land in the hands of the people. He noted that, the land question in Kayunga is due to lack of rightful ownership and some people were trying to use unlawful means to settle the land conflicts. The minister further showed the gathering a letter which the commissioner land registry wrote to Mukono Land Registrar and copied to Kayunga land Board halting leasing of land in Bbaale County. The citizens who had accused the minister for negligence later realised that following the law was the right way of solving the land question in Kayunga district and Uganda as a Whole.Thus the Project name "FOLLOW THE LAW" was better delivered by the NA skit on land conflicts in the community.

A citizen who had been chosen by the people reading the photocopy of the letter by the Commissioner land registry to the Land board in Kayunga dated:

When Hon. Madada showed the gathering the letter from the Commissioner land Registry,the people asked one of the participants to read the letter and later interpreter it  in Luganda for them to understand the contents better.

Time for jubilation!! We shall follow the law

During the KYATTO NA, it was realised that the communities are not informed on their rights and obligations and the elite want to exploit them after one participant had asked if it were right for three people to acquire a land title on their behalf since they do not have the money to process a land title for the village dwellers. The Hon. Minister Madada, vehemently rejected the proposal by the village members to register land in names of three people. He advised that, each community member or family is required by law to register their own land. No short cut.

CEWIT, Serit Institute and Net Werk Demo cratie team in Uganda, 27th May, 2015

Why the project on "FOLLOW THE LAW"

Right from the skit of the KYATTO NA, it was realised that if citizens participate in the law making processes at different level, they will be better governed and thus promote the democratic principles in their different country context.

FOR AND MY COUNTRY

Jimmy Baluku Odyek
RWECO and Member of CEWIT -Uganda
http://rweco.org/

Supporting Conflict affected Girls in Rwenzori region

Public Notice

RIC-NET with support from GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDREN has been supporting some conflict affected girls since June 2014 with livelihood skills trainings, psychosocial support, mentoring, and scholastic materials.

The 2^nd batch recruitment exercise starts in May-June 2015 for 40 girls out of school and 75 girls in schools located in Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko Districts.

Some criteria to consider include:

•  Must be a young girl aged 16-22 years
•   Resident of the Rwenzori region particularly Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo Districts that have been severely affected by rebel attack and ADF war
•  Have been directly or indirectly affected by any rebel activities also the ADF war.
•  An orphan with a real mother or father or both having been killed during the war and has no source of stable livelihood or support for education.
•  She was abducted during war, lived with rebels in the bush and later escaped.
•   She was either injured and disabled or raped during war and now has a baby needs support.
•  She was left without guardian or parents and taken to a refuge or internal displaced peoples (IDP) camps.
•   Has a dream of continuing with school / acquiring   vocational skills for self sustainable livelihood.
• Could be in school or out of school.

RIC-NET will verify the claims made by the young girls by getting recommendations from local LC 1 or religious leaders or head of schools. Visit homes where the girl currently lives and talk to close relatives or guardian and neighbors.

So, any young girl who fits in some on the above criteria should contact a local leader in your area or information centre near you or religious leaders or directly contact RIC-NET project officer.

Contact

Project officer

Ms. Evelyn Kenyana

Tel: 0382277994

Mobile: 0772 409630 or 0705674200

 Email: evelyne@ricnet.co.ug

Kasese the District leadership embark on roads connecting mountainous areas

In the bid to reduce poverty in Kasese, the district leadership is embarking most on roads connecting mountainous areas. Most of the sub counties like Bwesumbu, Buhuhira, Mahango, Kyarumba, Karambi, Ihandiro, Nyakiyumbu and many more have had new roads opened and well-constructed  to connect various places in Kasese District.

Today, the RDC Kasese has yet commissioned another road that will connect Rukooki and Kilembe sub counties through the mountains.

This comes after central government sends funds to the district through the CAAIP project to construct roads in hard to reach areas. The road starts at Kigoro I Primary School through the steep mountains to Kilembe Hospital market (Katiri)

The RDC was accompanied by the District Chairperson, The Vice Chairperson, The Hon. Secretary for works, Hon. Councilors from Rukoki sub county, the District Engineer, the Assistant engineers in charge of roads, the sub county chief Rukoki sub county, the LCIII Chairperson Rukoki sub county and many more officials.

The District chairperson convened a community dialogue meeting which the leaders were joined by the community members of Kigoro. A number of issues were addressed and discussed in an interactive manner where the LCIII Chairperson Mr. Muhindo Yohana Kidwek thanks the leaders for having come and also talk to the people. He marked a number of government acheivements over the last three years some of which are; there are two millers under CDD program, all health centres do receive drugs adequately and are staffed, they received over 1 million coffee seedlings and have been planted in different parishes, they have civil servants, teachers and managed to have have 3 youths recruited in district service from the sub county, staff quarters were constructed in 2 schools, one health centre in Kigoro, it was constructed and has drugs to mention but a few. He thanked the district leader for having fulfilled their pledge of constructing this road. He requested the RDC and the District chairperson to tell people how to use the blessing to improve their livelihood and reduce poverty.

Both the RDC and the LCV Chairperson requested the people to stop marrying many women and make use of the road to transport their agricultural produce, access health services and Kilembe hospital and also told them to appreciate the little that government has done in Kasese compared to other districts.

The contractor also Eng. Waiswa Richard of AZU Properties Limited requested the people to be cooperative and not steal construction materials

The RDC the proceeded to the commissioning grounds to officially kick start the construction works

http://youtu.be/RYaZzNIaB6A
Reported by Mumbere samwel

Kasese hit by fresh River Nyamwamba floods

Residents in Bulembia division in Kasese municipality on Thursday morning woke up to find their homes in the middle of flood water which had cut off several villages due to the flooding river Nyamwamba. The river which started flooding very early in the morning left several people displaced and other trapped.  This called for police intervention to rescue some of the people them. Alex Kwatampora, the projects manager of Tibet Hima said that the flooding river has destroyed the wall which was constructed by the company to control floods and that patients in Kilembe mines are at risk since the water is moving towards the hospital.

  

Some of the children trapped in flood water of the river. Photos/Wilson Asiimwe

“Several people have been trapped in the bushes and we are doing all that it takes to ensure that we evacuate them to a safe place otherwise we expect the worst as the rain continues to fall,” said Kwatampora. The bridge at Kyanjoki has been temporarily closed due to the floods which have weakened it and a new road has been established to connect Katiri and Kyanjoki villages in Kasese Municipality.

River Nyamwamba flooding to the surrounding areas

The people, who had returned to Kilembe after the previous floods, have again fled their homes and they have sought refuge in Kasese town.

However, also in Kasese town the flooding river has cut off the area of Nyakasanga. No injury or death had been recorded by press time although several people have been trapped in the middle of the river and the police fire brigade has already arrived in Kasese to save the situation. “I am very worried, if nothing is done, we are going to be washed away because whenever it rains  in the mountains, it is us down here who suffer the most,” said Gad Baluku a resident of Kyanjoki in Kasese town.

Nyamwamba bridge blocked at Kyajoki Kasese Bulembia 

Bob Kagarura, the district police commander said that he has already dispatched a team of Marine police and the fire brigade to rescue those who could have been trapped.

“My men are already on the ground to ensure that we rescue any one trapped because the situation is running out of control,” says Kagarura.

Related

Works on Nyamwamba river start after flood disaster

River Nyamwamba spills wrath

Causes of River Nyamambwa floods

Five perish as fresh floods hit Kasese

 Accessed on Friday 8th May, 2015 from:http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/668072-kasese-hit-by-fresh-river-nyamwamba-floods.html

Jimmy Odyek

RWECO

CLAMOUR FOR SALARY INCREMENT BY UGANDAN AUGUST HOUSE IN THE 2015/16 NATIONAL BUDGET

Jimmy Odyek

May 6 at 10:54am · Edited · 

Puzzled by the way how the Hon. Members of Parliament in Uganda can sit and decide to increase their salary by a whooping 40% effective next financial year. I took time to comment trying to figure out how a house of 375 citizens forget how teachers who made them reach that August house only want a salary increment of 10% as promised by government during their negotiation for a salary increment. Who will meet this 40%, to be accurate each teacher must pay P.A.Y.E to contribute towards the national budget. The numbers, MPs are paid Shs. 5.5M as mileage, Shs. 8m subsistence allowance, Shs. 3m salary, other allowances, medical insurance. Total monthly earnings Shs. 21m. While a class room teacher is paid Shs. 300,000/. If the MPs pay was allocated to the teachers government would pay 70 teachers. The ratio of the salary of the MP to the teachers is 1:70. For every 1 MP we miss salary for 70 teachers. What does the teacher do, the ratio of teacher: pupil is 1:45. The current situation is 1:70 on average. Therefore, 70 teachers translates into 4900 pupils. A call to the MPs is for them to reject this increment and instead focus on reducing the numbers in the August house by adopting the quotes system. 1MP: 200,000 citizens. Given the current population of Uganda, we only need (35,000,000/200,000)= 175 MP in the house. How much can we save.

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  Serapio Magambo Good analysis,we still have a long way to empower our citizens to hold these guys accountable. Assuming all constituents rejected the current MP's in the next election just because they think for themselves and mind abt their benefits,the next generation of MP's would be more conscious.But is this possible when people still fight over 1000 note to have/pass another Kisanjafor the Big man?

  23 hrs · Like
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  Royal Olive Prof. I guess its party politics at work, trying to strategize means of getting monies for campaigns come 2016, but on the other hand, it might be a solution to reducing bribery and corruption on the expense of the innocent poor, exploiting the poor on...See More

  20 hrs · Edited · Like
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  Sher Kaliba i refrained to comment because iam still analyzing the reasons behind

  19 hrs · Like
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  Jimmy Odyek #Magambo, Olive, Sher, we need people driven change based on facts. I wonder why Uganda can't adopt the quota system of representation, if Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania is cutting on public expenditure, in Uganda we are doing the opposite. I am reading a pub...See More

  1 hr · Like

  Accessed on Friday 8th May, 2015 from facebook:

  Jimmy Odyek