INFORMATION CENTRES EXHIBIT MORE RESULTS.

In addition to the many results RIC-NET and Busongora Information Centre (BRIC) have registered in the recent times, like promoting the use of ICTs, strengthening computer literacy, reducing crop pests and diseases through plant clinics, and improving the reading environment, culture and attitude towards community libraries through the community library at the Information Centre respectively; RIC-NET on 09/04/13 also learnt that the several information points under BRIC had since last year till date engaged in various social accountability activities. And these activities had accordingly paved way for improvement of service delivery in their respective areas of operation.

RIC-NET director setting the climate for the meeting

During the meeting held at BRIC on 09/04/13, members from the information centres present shared some of these interventions;

According to one Kisembo Obadiah from Rwesande information centre, the information centre had monitored the performance of the NAADs program in the sub county and found out that the sub county had this season supplied maize seeds to the farmers after the planting season. These findings were shared with the Sub county chief and the NAADs coordinator who are yet to meet the beneficiaries in a community meeting to explain and also apologize to the farmers about this mishap.

In addition to this, the point also appealed to the sub county to improve the road network in the area with particular focus to the road connecting Rwesande to the main road; accordingly the road was worked on last year. All deep potholes were covered and the road graded making it easier for the community to connect to the outside world. Meanwhile the point also advocated for more health workers at Rwesande HCIV and for an ambulance, all these have been addressed as the HC received over 6 nurses and an ambulance between October and March this year.

On behalf of Muhokya information point the Chairperson Mr.Tushabomwe Saveri revealed that they had been able to accomplish several things with and for the community among which included securing office space at the sub county headquarters as a token of appreciation for their good works and relations with the sub county, starting up an evening adult literacy class at the sub county for the community; this is aimed at curbing the illiteracy levels in Muhokya Sub County. In addition to this, the Information point sensitized persons living with HIV/AIDs (PLHAs) in Kahendero about the importance of taking ARVs. Reports indicate that these people had lost hope in life and ceased to see the relevance in taking medication. However after the sensitization meetings, over 30 patients resumed their medication and are now in better health carrying on their duties.

Samson sharing at the meeting

In Bugoye Sub County, Bugoye information centre Chairperson Mr. Ndaleghana Samson also informed the meeting that they had devoted all their efforts to educating the farmer community about the management of banana bacterial wilt which has for long frustrated farmers’ yields. As a result of this intervention farmers have finally understood and accepted to cut down the affected banana plants as the first step to managing this disease. On the other hand those who embraced the information earlier have seen great improvement in their plantations and yields. Apparently banana bacterial wilt is gradually becoming a thing of the past in the sub county courtesy of Bugoye information centre.

In a related development, Mr. Isemusoro Chairperson Kirembe information point in Muhokya Sub County also shared how their interventions had seen to better quality coffee, increased yields and returns through bulk marketing. Mr. Isemusoro revealed that the

Isemusoro sharing at the meeting

centre staff read the books on the management and control of coffee pests and disease received from BRIC and applied the knowledge therein. And as a result the coffee farmers were able to grow and manage their coffee better and mobilize themselves into a group which was able to collect two tones of coffee and sell to great lakes coffee company; Great lakes is known for buying only quality coffee. 

This turns out to be quite impressive because unlike in the past the farmers were able to produce better quality coffee and to also determine how much coffee they produced in a season.

These among others are the case stories that the information centre representatives shared during the meeting whose aim was to share what each has been doing in their respective sub counties. The meeting also aimed at discussing a strategy of how to strengthen the network’s social accountability interventions in the district of Kasese.

It was agreed that members should embrace proper documentation and reporting of their 
interventions for further advocacy and sharing. RIC-NET secretariat pledged to support the different points in this area whenever called upon

Participants pose for a group photo after the meeting at BRIC

RWECO LAUNCHES POLICY BRIEF ON WATER, HEALTH AND EDUCATION SECTORS.

A policy according to the Vice LCV Chairperson Kabarole district, who participated in this event, is a plan for action. In the bid to deliver services to it’s people the government of Uganda has set policies for the different sectors to guide their actions.

With the mandate to compliment government programs, RWECO conducted a participatory policy assessment in the water, health and education sectors; the assessment that was conducted in 10 sub counties  in five districts in the Rwenzori region aimed at linking the existing policies to service delivery  vis -a – viz the government manifesto (2011 - 2016).

Ø  Other aims were to find out feedback from the users of services in Education, health, and water sectors;

Ø  To find out practical actions that communities, local authorities, line ministries and other stakeholders can take to improve delivery of basic services at community level;

Ø  To come up with suggestions on policy alternatives on delivery of basic services in the education

Several findings were compiled, analyzed and summarized into a policy brief that RWECO launched on 19/03/13 at Gardens restaurant in Fort portal. 

Speaking at the launch meeting the RWECO Coordinator, Jimmy Odyek welcomed members to the meeting, highlighted it’s purpose and also welcomed Mr. Misusera Mukasa the lead consultant in the assessment to share some key findings in the report. They included;

 Photo showing copy of the Policy brief paper

 Education Sector

Ø  Poor performance in PLE Exams e.g Kichwamba btn 2009-2011 never got any first grades 

Ø  Bad staff welfare including ongoing professional development.

Ø  High girl child drop- out rate from  school

Ø  Insufficient fund releases

Ø  Automatic promotion; 100% of respondents described it as a bad policy that contributed to children’s failure in the exams. They added that children do not work hard enough to get promoted because it is automatic

Ø  60% of the schools visited noted poor parents support towards their children’s education

Ø  Irregular inspection of schools e.g - Kidudu –Kyenjojo, Hope in Kabarole, Kichwamba in Kamwenge

Ø  Facilities available in the school, number of classrooms, desks, latrine stances, essential text books;- Others were average except for Nyaruroma

Ø  PTA/SMCs exist but not doing the rightful roles

Health Sector

Ø  25% of the HC compounds visited were well maintained however Examples of poorly maintained Health units include Nyahuka HC4- Bundibugyo, and Kabaka in Kasese.

Ø  All health units visited were open at the time of visit which was a good indicator.

Ø  Understaffing in all the HCs visited.

Ø  75% of the health units surveyed had essential drugs.

Ø  Inadequate PHC releases.

Ø  Quality of Health facility structure: 42% were good, 50% were fair and 8 % were poor.

Ø  Lack of basic structures; placenta pits, kitchens, pit latrines, rubbish bins was observed in most HCs.

Ø  29% of the HCs had good houses, 39% were average and 25% were very poor.

Ø  58% of HCs surveyed had some form of power although quite many had only solar power which was fairly good. 

Ø  Prevalence of immunizable diseases was at 33% and yet services were available. Poor staff welfare.

Water Sector

Ø  52% functional, 18% occasional 30% non functional (Nyabusozi in Nyantungo SC Kyenjojo, Rutorwa- Busoro SC Kabarole .

Ø  Quantity of water (yield) was at 52% good, 39% was average 9% poor

Ø  73% of the water points committees had never been trained on their roles and responsibilities.

Ø  Quality of water. 64% said it was good, 13% poor, 23% was fair.

Ø  Usability of water facility- 74%  were congested and 26% were not.

Ø  Management of Water Point e.g. (presence of a caretaker). 32% were poorly maintained e.g Karaphael- katooke town council- Kyenjojo, Kangora borehole in Kamwenge, Kakoga Shallow well –Mubuku 2, Karusandara-Kasese

Ø  Payment of user fees- 68% of the respondents said users do not pay

Ø  Construction near pit latrines- 23% were only 100 meters away, which was dangerous and only 45% were far by 500 meters plus.

Ø  Catchment areas 59% serve between 3-4 villages

Wholesomely the assessment noted that, it is evident that certain Education, Health and Water policy provisions are not met. Whereas there is a big stride to meet some of them say in the provision of safe water to the people, management and mantainnace of those points has had challenges. And that increased enrollment has been achieved while at the same time performance and maintenance of children in school remains a challenge.   It is therefore imperative upon central and local governments to ensure that the gaps pointed out in the policy provision are worked upon.

Mr. Mukasa presenting at

Commenting on the findings, members thanked Mr. Mukasa for the information and appreciated that most of the findings were true although districts were doing all they can to address the service delivery challenges mentioned above.

For instance the Vice LCV Chairperson Kabarole explained that Kabarole had recruited more teachers, was conducting routine immunization, is building more infrastructures, although he decried other outstanding challenges like poor road network in the district, corruption and late release of funds.

He however thanked CSOs for always complimenting government programs, “NGOs work as blood vessels linking and developing every sector, in fort portal alone 7% of the district budget I funded by NGOs; the contribution of NGOs can never be taken for granted”

Presiding over the function as Chief Guest, the RDC Kabarole district, also thanked RWECO for their efforts in monitoring public expenditure and ensuring that serves are effectively delivered to the communities. He challenged the people in attendance to ensure that what has been discussed is greatly achieved by the people they represent. The RDC regretted to note that some rich people in the community are mean so much so that they build so many  big storied houses and buy so many expensive cars yet they cannot out of good will build even a two roomed staff house for HCs or schools in their communities of which their own relatives are beneficiaries. 

The RDC crowned the meeting with the launch of the Policy brief paper.  (Copies of this policy brief  can be got at the RWECO member offices; KALI,GHRD,RIC-NET,RIDE-Africa and RWECO Coordinating Unit) 

The Kabarole RDC together with the LCV Vice Chaipersons Bundibugyo (left) and Kabarole (right) districts launch the Policy brief

The meeting was attended by approximately 35 persons from the Rwenzori region; they included District Executive Committee members, District speakers, CSO and media representatives, and RWECO staff members.

RWECO’s ANNUAL REFLECTION MEETING KICKS OFF.

RWECO Staff and BoD at the Kasunga Reflection meeting from 22-25 Nov. 2012

RWECO staff and BoD members arrived at Kasunga Training Center in Kyenjojo last night 22^nd Nov.2012 ahead of the two days Reflection meeting that kicked off today 23^rd Nov 2012. The meeting that has so far attracted approximately twenty three participants (08 females&15 males) participated is expected to run until Sunday 25^th Nov. 2012.

The reflection meeting whose objectives include; to build a strong crusade on enhancing civic competence on voice and accountability in the Rwenzori region, to coordinate capacity building of the RWECO members and constituents in citizen empowerment on constitutionalism, human rights and good governance, to undertake and or coordinate advocacy activities on major policy issues at regional nationalism and international level and to mobilize and manage resources for the consortium started at 9:00am with opening remarks from Jimmy Baluku Odyek RWECO Chairperson.

Opening the meeting Jimmy welcomed participants to the reflection meeting and also took them through two days program and the climate setting session. Below are some of the participants’ expectations about the meeting as shared;

 

1.    To learn of RWECO’s future interventions

2.    To come up with a comprehensive and final RWECO report and strategic plan

3. To understand the commitment of RWECO members towards fundraising for the consortium.

4.    To understand RWECO’s sustainability plan.

5.    To learn of the members’ ICT challenges and suggestions to RIC-NET to address them.

6.    To know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of RWECO.

7.    To Learn of RWECO’s key achievements registered so far.

8. To know all the RWECO BoD members and understand their take on RWECO’s programming, interventions and Progress.

9.    To share experiences from the different activities’ implementation going on in the different organizations.

Commenting on this, the Jimmy thanked all members for having a vision for RWECO, indicating that the meeting will make sure that all the raised expectations are surely met. He then invited the chairperson of the day Ms. Kegingo Sheila to facilitate the report writing session. This session is expected to take the whole of day one, 23^rd.Nov.2012.

In this session, focal persons are reporting on the different activities they have been implementing with key focus on the numbers reached, content discussed, passed on or received, area/place of operation, achievements registered, challenges faced, case studies noted and key lessons learned. (A comprehensive report about this will be availed by end of today). However, several issues emerging from the different presentations include;

Key Emerging Issues

Ø  Monitors need to be encouraged and or guided to learn to take action at their level without necessarily reporting monitoring issues to the RWECO members they are attached to. Doing this it is said will facilitate immediate correction of service delivery problems identified in the community.

Ø  Enhanced monitors capacity in monitoring public expenditure, reporting, documentation articulation of issues and advocating for positive change has been registered. This is evident in the increased number of news stories shared by the monitors for the RWECO monthly newsletters.

Ø  Some case studies on the Orgaanizations’ success stories have  also  been shared for instance RideAFrica shared a case from Nyantabooma HCII, Kichwamba sub county Kabarole District; where CPF and monitors monitored the HC and found poor sanitation; unhygeinic latrine, dirty and bushy compound, poor disposal of garbage, alleged high prevalence of malaria, poor time management by HC staff-late coming. Following this, the monitors engaged with the Sub County leadership and HC management on these issues demanding that these issues be addressed immediately. Later the monitors learnt through their other monitoring visits that the issues had been adequately addressed.

While KALI shared about their success in getting children in Kamwenge primary schools to report to school the first week of the term since many do not turn until the second and third week. Accordingly they hosted the secretary for social services on VOK who mobilized parents to send their children to school right from the school open day and also educated the parents on the value of education. Consequently the number of pupils that reported to school in third term is reported to have soared high as opposed to the previous terms.

Ø  Lack of Cameras by the monitors has limited evidenced based monitoring because they are not able to capture an event as it happens.

Ø  What is the impact of RWECO’s intervention; there is need to establish what the situation was before and what it is since RWECO’s intervention; e.g the number of pupil enrollment, retention and completion of primary level before and now, the involvement of PWDs in social accountability work and accessing good public services.

Ø  Poor phone radio network limits the number of phones-ins and as thus participation of the community in radio programs.

Ø  There is increased demand for radio programs by the community although it is challenged by the inadequate funds.

Ø  Radio programs have proven to be the most effective means of reaching out to masses in a faster and reliable manner.

Ø  I.EC. materials are effective because their message are not time bound, the message on is continuous and they have enhanced RWECO’s visibility, branding and created more understanding on the consortium’s programs, and activities.

These among others are some of the key highlights in the meeting sofar, other things to be looked at include reviewing the RWECO M&E framework, strategic planning and developing the consortium’s fundraising strategy. To be continued…