WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFULL PUPILS

Following the art and painting competition that RIC-NET conducted in the region between May and August 2013, it was time to reward the participants with certificates of participation and simple gifts for the best participants; these included Mathematical sets, and Art and painting kits. Every participating school was also given copies of the education magazine showcasing in it work of the best participants in the region. In Kabarole district the RIC-NET Information Officer visited the five schools(Rwimi, Rubona, Kigarama, Kyebambe Model and Harugongo Primary schools) that participated in the competitions to deliver the results, certificates, magazines and gifts. Similar exercises have been conducted in the other districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo. Here below are photos from the visits to schools in Kabarole district.

Pupils at Harugongo PS together with their teacher pose for group photo.

The RIC-NET Information Officer hands over  a Certificate to a pupil at Harugongo PS

The Deputy Head Mistress Harugongo PS shows a Certificate to the assembly challenging them to be active in school programs.

A group photo of Art teachers and participants at Kyebambe Model PS

A teacher at Kyebambe Model giving out Certificates to the participants at the school.

 

A group photo of the participants together with the RIC-NET Information Officer, head teacher and the art teachers at the school

A pupil at Kigarama PS receives his certificate from the Head Mistress

A teacher at Rubona PS helping the pupils to flag their certificates

A pupil at Rwimi PS receiving her Certificate from the RIC-NET Information&Advocacy Officer.

RIC-NET Information Officer and an Art teacher at Rwimi PS pose for a photo with the participants at the school.

We are grateful.

In the bid to support and improve Education in both primary and secondary schools in the Rwenzori region, RIC-NET/RWECO organized an essay and Art competition in the region.

Nyakasenyi pupils pose for a photo.

The competitions under several themes like “How adequate have the government interventions in boosting Agriculture and education sectors been in light of the different, NAADS, USE and UPE initiative”, Art and painting under “A child friendly environment”, poems attracted several schools in the 7 Districts of Kasese, Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa.

Just after getting their rewards.

Kyenjojo District was represented by Nyakasenyi and Kyembogo primary schools.

Delivering certificates to all the participants in the above schools this morning by the RIC-NET staff the pupils and teachers were filled with joy and happiness receiving good news of harvest.

In his opening remarks the teacher in charge Nyakasenyi primary Mr. Kalwana Monday expressed his gratitude to RIC-NET/RWECO for having intervened in the Education sector and motivating the learners to join such competitions.

Priscilah of Kyembogo P.S Receiving her certificate

Speaking to the pupils Mr. Yosia Baluku RIC-NET appreciated the pupils for having picked the interest participating in this Art and essay competition. He encouraged them to continuously participate in such challenges as they improve their writing skills, painting skills, earn them presents like the certificates they received. They were all filled with joy as they received their certificates.

The winning team-Kyembogo

In a related story Kyembogo primary school was over whelmed with joy as they welcomed the RIC-NET staff with serious hand claps at an assembly arranged by the school management. The deputy headteacher was grateful and thanked RIC-NET for such an initiative saying this has given the pupils courage to know that their pieces were marked by highly qualified teachers who mark PLE as narrated to them by the RIC-NET represantive.

They were happy and promised to continue participating in whatever other challenge that may come up.

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

“AS MPS we are committed to do work but fundraising in churches have made us poor” MP Kasese municipality

In a meeting organized by RWECO with the Member of Parliament for Kasese Municipality Hon James Mbahimba on how RWECO can influence the Uganda Wildlife Act amendment and present the monitoring findings to the relevant committees of the 9^th Parliament was held at RWECO Board Room, Kasese Municipality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hon James Mbahimba (2nd left) with RWECO staffs; RIC-NET, KALI, GOODHOPE and RWECO-CU

Hon. James Mbahimba apologized for not participating in RWECO activities as he was either not informed or misinformed. He thanked RWECO and its members Good Hope, KALI and RICNET for their efforts in ensuring effective delivery and urged them to sensitize the communities to understand the role of the MPS and help them to fulfill their roles other than as the spend most of time fundraising and gave an example that Kasese municipality alone has 219 churches, 42 secondary schools, more than 50 bars, bodabodas and women group. If each church hold a fundraising and he has to contribute how much money will this amount to. To show that these groups are intended to milk politicians each politician is called alone not excluding the opponent.  When asked about non participation in some activities he emphasized sometimes the organizers do not follow protocol for example an event where the chairperson LC3 is the chief guest and the MP is just a guest.

           

Hon. James Mbahimba (in black suit) emphasizing the roles of Members of Parliaments

He emphasized that members of parliament are not delegates but representatives so people need to trust them because they represent their interests.

Hon. Mbahimbaemphasized that a member of parliament has 3 major roles to play and these are

1.       Appropriation and these include budgeting and allocation of money.

2.       Make laws/ACTs and review

3.       Representation in other wards no one should know the constituency more than the Member of Parliament.

The major concern member of parliament  for  is how to get  money in Kasese municipality and his focus is increasing Agriculture production through rehabilitation of Mubuku irrigation scheme which is done and increased employment opportunities through the revival of Kilembe mines which commenced on 1^st October and will be 3500 people on 25 years contract which is a renewable contract. He confirmed that information is power that is why he struggled to ensure that the people of Kasese municipality have access to UBC and NTV television network.

When asked what he has done for kasese since he joined the parliament, he told the meeting that he has advocated for the firefighting equipment for kasese municipality, advocated for 70  million for the Adventist church to procure a band and a radio system, 70 million to moslems to start a school for basic education,  50 million for mosque  construction, 25 million for the youth revolving fund, 3billion and 600 for construction of 9 classroom blocks, a laboratory and a library at Kasese Secondary School.In terms of roads the Member of Parliament stressed that Kasese district is remaining with two major roads totarmac which the road connecting to Ibanda and the road connecting to katwe. The question is if all these resources exist in the community then why is there poor service delivery? Why don’t we mainstream our management to ensure effective service delivery?

Hon. James Mbahimba (in black suit) was clear on what he had done during his time in Parliament

He emphasized that Kasese district has 30 schools compared to Napak district in northern which has three secondary schools.Kisinga sub county has 3 secondary schools alone which cannot be compared to NAPAK district. The tax payers contribute 82 to the government budget and the rest is donor money and the employees in public service are 700,000 and on average if every employee earns Ugx. 500,000 per month a total Ugx. 3.5 trillion would be spent on salary alone.  How will the balance cater for the remaining population? He decried the challenge of   poor accountability because when money is swindled thesame item will continue to be budgeted for.  He exclaimed that kasese gets 2billion shillings for NAADS per year but there are no visible results to show value for money and that 70 of this money is spent on Administration and only 30% is spent on inputs yet B.T.C constructed a mini-irrigation scheme in Muhikya Sub-county which have improved the livelihood of the people since they now have food through out the whole year. 

Hon James Mbahimba

As part of the action plan, Hon. Mbahimba James agreed to mobilize fellow MPs to participate in the live debates organized by RWECO members in Kasese as well as support RWECO in its petition to parliament on the natural resource policy. The meeting was also attended by RWECO members from KALI, RICNET and Good hope.

Written by

Sheila and Gilbert

RWECO