“WORKING UNDER ONE CAMP FOR A COMMON GOAL, THE ONLY CANAL TO REALIZING DISTRICT VISION”

The 6^th,Dec, 2013 will remain a memorable day for the Ntoroko District Local government when all Politicians and technocrats from Sub county to District level converged at Allan’s Resort,Fortportal to discuss pertinent development concerns for the District and capacity building staff as a way of designing a robust strategy of pushing the District ahead in Development as well as competing with other Districts.

Participants from different lower local governments and District headquarters

Good Hope Foundation for rural Development(GHFRD) under RWECO contributed towards the successful organization of the Coordination meeting that brought together all the District, Sub county technical and political teams totaling to Seventy six(76) Participants including; The LCV C/Person, The Chief Administrative Officer(CAO), Chief Finance officer(CFO),District Head Human resource, District Planner, District Naads Officer, District Education Officer, District Health officer, Secretary for service commission, LCiii Chairpersons from all eleven sub counties, Sub county Chiefs and Naads service providers.

Among the topics discussed were; Revenue sources for Local Governments and the legal framework governing Financial Decentralization, Roles of Various stakeholders in Revenue mobilization and utilization, Revenue Performance, Revenue mobilization strategies for Local governments, collection, Recording ,accountability and queries raised by the Auditor General on revenue, and Risk management in the implementation of public services.

Departmental heads, subcounty chiefs,LCIII C/Persons in attendance

On behalf of the District Administration, The CAO, Mr.Allan Ashaba presented the major Challenges still affecting the successful implementation and delivery of services to citizens as follows;

·         All District local governments lacking official administrative headquarters whereby the District Headquarters are housed by Kibuuku primary school, Nombe sub county in a temporary structure, Karugutu sub county in a rented house, Bweramule sub county having no structure, Rwebisengo sub county just yet to construct offices, Kanara sub county in a temporary structure and Butungama sub county in a rented house.

·         Most Local governments including the District failing to have mandatory sittings because of the limited revenue.

·         Service delivery challenges whereby Development projects are not adequately funded by the development grants such as; Health centers, Roads, Water sources and schools.

·         Limited monitoring of the implementation of council programmes and projects because of limited funding.

·         Failure to co-fund projects-LGMSD,NAADS

·         Inadequate operation and maintenance of Boreholes, Schools and Health units among others due to limited funds

The CAO,Mr Ashaba Allan, addressing participants on the status of service delivery in as far as service delivery is concerned

In the drive of revenue mobilization, the following challenges were highlighted as being encountered;

·         Limited revenue sources as a result of poor mobilization.

·         Conflict of interest whereby most projects are tendered by relatives of politicians or supporters/confidants of technical staff.

·         Limited political will to ensure that revenue is realized as awarded-calling for waivers.

·         Personal interests out competing institutional interests, like most cooperatives interested in making huge profits.

·         Laxity by technical staff not respecting the agreements signed between tenderers and Lower local governments.

·         Disasters and conflicts in some areas especially along DRC Border.

·         Failure of the lower local governments to start their own markets or partner with private partners.

The Chief Finance Officer,Mr. Kyamakya John strengthening participants' capacities in Financial management

Major Out puts of the Coordination meeting.

·         Leaders making a resolution that all Sub county chiefs work closely with the councils and make sure at least one market is established for their respective Sub Counties or sign Memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with the already operating markets managed privately, as away of boosting revenue collections.

·         All political and technical leaders at District and sub county levels agreeing to work together putting a side their political and personal grudges for the betterment of the District.

·         Leaders resolving to utilize the opportunity of NGO community structures as a platform of information sourcing and dissemination in communities as well as basing on the structures to evaluate leaders’ performance. 

Mr.Allan Ashaba giving feedback.

Conclusively, the Local council Five Chairperson Hon. Kyamanywa Timothy appreciated the opportunity set by the retreat for all District leaders to look at their mandates, roles and be able to chart a way forward in improving service delivery.

FISH MONGERS IN KANARA TOWN COUNCIL TASK NTOROKO DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO ACCOUNT IN OPEN SPACE

 

Mr. Chairman, I must tell you these law enforcement officers are a burden to us here at Kanara fishing village, tell us who is supposed to patrol the lake, BMU or Law enforcement officers? we want you to tell us now!

The 31^st of July,2013 will remain a remarkable day in the history of Kanara Town council, Ntoroko District in the Rwenzori region of Uganda.

Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development in Partnership with Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) organized a Citizens Manifesto day in Ntoroko south cell, Kanara Town council to discuss local development challenges with both the District and Town council leaders. 

 

Mr. Kyamanywa Timothy, District Chairperson stretching as the District speaker, Vice chairperson and CAO look on.

Among the leaders were; The Ntoroko District Chairperson  Mr. Timothy Kyamanywa  and his Vice Hon. Ahebwa Justus, The Chief administrative officer Mr.Ashaba Allan, The District speaker Hon. Betty Tembe, The District Education Officer Mr.Mubarak  Masereka, The District Naads Coordinator, The District Engineer, The District Physical Planner, The District Health Officer and the Town Council leadership including the Town mayor Mr. Yusuf Byaruhanga, Town clerk, Town treasurer, Chairperson Beach management unit, Naads extension providers among others.

The residents who attended in big numbers were represented by the Neighborhood assembly speaker in presenting a report highlighting the status of service delivery in the town council. Among the challenges highlighted were:-

The NA Speaker narrating the plight of Kanara dwellers."Today should be the time for answers to our challenges not just promisses as it is always done during election campaigns"

·        Reduced pupils enrolment at Ntoroko primary school from 982 to 750 since January, 2013 attributed to the fishing activities that attract children and parents’ negligence;

·        Poor living condition of teachers, who even have no staff quarters, a case in point of Ntoroko Primary school with eighteen (18) teachers;

·        Un friendly school environment whereby pupils share the same environment with baboons. This is risky to their lives and for the last one month, a person arm was chopped by a baboon;

·        Reluctance of Local leaders to attend meetings organized by the residents. This was however attributed to most political leaders staying long in their offices and now take those offices as their own assets;

·        Increasing transport fares on the Kanara-Fortprotal road from 6000UGX to 15000UGX in just less than six months;

·        Corruption among the police men and women, who intimidate residents just to get money from them;

·        Un clarified law enforcement team at the lake(Lake albert), whereby the number of law enforcers was increasing time and again and this according to residents was promoting corruption and increasing illegal fishing;

·        Ignorance by the residents about the 25% fund to the village councils/cells and whether the youth fund from the District was still being received;

·        Un clear taxes levied on fish by Beach management unit. “…every  leader comes up with his own tax, what is the official tax..”? Asked by a resident. It was also revealed that confiscated fish from illegal fishing activities are not burnt but again sold out to people close to the Law Enforcement Officers

·        Residents challenged the leaders whether they do not know where sub-standard nets are manufactured instead of wasting time and resources, chasing fisher men at the lake.

The above highlighted issues necessitated leaders’ responses by the CAO, District Chairperson, District speaker, DEO, Town council Mayor responded as follows;-

Mr. Allan Ashaba, the CAO Ntoroko District responding to the issues raised by the community.

·        The town Mayor and Town clerk were ordered by the LCV C/P to meet the UTODA Leadership in Fort-portal about the un clear transport fairs and in a weeks time give him a report;

·        Some Local councils were not receiving the 25% because they have failed to account for the last disbursements and were ordered in that meeting to immediately do so without delay;

·        The District speaker testified that in the Town council budget for the last financial year, it was passed that the Ntoroko Town council playground be fenced to protect people from baboons. The mayor however defended his team that money was not enough but pledged to fence it in this financial year;

Ms. Betty Tembe, the District Speaker expressing her support for the residents from today on wards..

·        The CAO assured the residents that 30m UGX have been allocated to construct a five stance latrine at Ntoroko primary school in two months period from August. He also noted that 20M UGX have been received from UNICEF to support the roofing of an ECD Centre that was blown by wind in Ntoroko south cell.

·        One (100) hundred iron sheets were revealed to the residents as having been contributed by the Town council and Beach management unit to construct a semi-permanent staff quarters at Ntoroko primary school. And that soon in this financial year, the construction is to commence. The CAO however explained to the residents that a governments’ policy on constructing staff quarters was changed where by concentration is now on the hard to reach and live communities, which are often rural.

·        Awareness was also made by the D.E.O to the residents that the government accepted each parent in urban centers to contribute Ugx. 10,400/ to facilitate in the management of schools, un like before. He also explained that UPE Disbursements are to be sent termly as opposed to the last years where funds were sent quarterly and this was incapacitating schools. And that UPE Funds are spent as; 15% in administration and 10% in Management.

Mr. Mubarak Masereka, the District education officer educating residents on UPE

·        About the support to the elderly, the CAO explained that the Government was piloting the project in few Districts, and that Ntoroko District was not among.

·        About the youth fund from the District, it was brought to the residents’ notice that the allocation to all sub counties is always Ugx  5 millions  and therefore becomes hard to be felt by residents. The Speaker however pledged support in lobbying for an increment in the next financial year.

·        The CAO and district chairperson  updated residents about scholarships; that Five were given by UNICEF but expressed dissatisfaction about the Kanara community whereby none of their children qualify for the scholarships which are competitive. He challenged the parents to invest in educating their children for a better future. The C/P LCV also called at residents to approach him in office and pick scholarship application forms for the Universities of:  Mutesa Royal University, Mountains of the Moon University and Uganda Pentecost University.

In the district chairperson’s closing remarks, he thanked Good Hope Foundation for empowering residents with skills to mobilize each other and engage their leaders. He however requested for an extension of the project to all sub counties of the District for all residents to benefit.

He pledged to write to UWA about the un controlled baboons and ask them to come up with an immediate solution to the problem.

About developments in the District, he informed residents that the District had locally collected Ugx. 450 millions  to construct the District administration block, and that the construction had started. He challenged parents to bring up their children morally and academically well because the a good future is assured, and instructed the CAO to follow-up on the alleged poor management of UPE Funds.

He closed the Activity by one again thanking Good Hope Foundation and Neighborhood assembly for great work and promised great support in fighting illegal fishing on Lake Albert, and informed residents that he is to share the Town council challenges with the President on his visit to the District this month.

CRITERIA/ CHECKLIST FOR SELECTION OF CBOs TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXTENSION OF THE CMA Project

Name of the CBO-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub County ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CBO Contact person (Name)---------------------------------------------------------Phone -----------------------

SECTION A: Organizational Capacity Assessment

Good Hope staff with Nyahuka CBO staff during the selection process

CRITERION	Yes	No	To what extent (Give answer on a scale of 3 to 1[1])
a. The CBO is registered at sub county or district level
b. The group has a clear leadership structure
c. The CBO has a membership of at least 25 – 30 active members
d. The CBO is active in its area of operation specifically in governance,  accountability and human rights
e. The CBO still enjoys the respect of the local authorities in its area of operation i.e. it should credible with a clean track record e.g. of being non political and corruption free.
f. The CBO is still affiliated to the implementing agency – namely RWECO, CEFORD, PAC, ACORD and DENIVA.
g. It has a healthy relationship with the implementing agency.
h. The CBO has evidence of popularizing the Citizens Manifesto in its area of operation.
i. The CBO facilitated the formation of NAs in its area of operation.
j. The CBO nurtured or has the capability of nurturing the NAs to maturity.
k. The CBO facilitated the NA(s) to conduct regular meetings and follow up of emerging issues.
l. The CBO is active in monitoring policy matters and mobilizing citizens to action.
m. The CBO has a clean track record particularly in the area of reporting on actions and meeting deadlines.
n. The CBO trained several other CBOs and the citizens on the Citizens Manifesto.
o. The CBO effectively participated in the previous project “Citizens Manifesto in Action”
p. The CBO has persons capable of working as ToTs.
n. The CBO is committed and willing to continue participating in the Citizen Manifesto in Action project
o. The CBO is involved in some entrepreneurship programme/activity.

Section B: Organizational Training Needs Assessment

CRITERION	Key Policies	Training needs	To what extent (Give answer on a scale of 3 to 1[2])
Assessment of the previous training
Did the CBO participate in training activities on the CM?
What key concepts did the CBO learn on the subject of the CM?
i)                    Key concepts of the Citizens Manifesto
ii)                  The linkage between the Citizens Manifesto and the Planning and Budgeting Process
iii)                The Local Government Planning and Budgeting Process
iv)                Monitoring the performance of elected leaders
v)                  Setting up and use of Neighbourhood Assemblies
vi. Following up issues arising from the Neighbourhood Assemblies
vii. Use of Public events to engage citizens and leaders e.g. Manifesto Days, Music Dance and Drama, Dialogue meetings etc.
viii. The role of elected leaders in the implementation of the CM
ix. The application of new ICT tools to report on the performance of leaders and service delivery
x. Undertaking advocacy campaigns
xi. How to mainstream gender, HIV/AIDS and conflict management in the implementation of the citizens manifesto
xii. Reports and report writing
In case of another round of training what should be the main topics to focus on? Below are possible topics. Do not restrict yourself to these.  Give 3 if you strongly agree, 2 for Agree, 1 for Do not Agree
i.                    Key concepts of the CM
ii.                  The local government budgeting and planning process
iii.                Analyzing the local government budgets
iv.                 Linking the budget to the CM
v.                   Budget and service delivery monitoring
vi.                 Public expenditure tracking
vii.               Generating issue papers
viii.             Facilitation of citizens to engage government
ix.                 Civic mobilization and facilitation
x.                   Advocacy strategies
xi.                 Mainstreaming gender, HIV/AIDS, Conflict management, environment etc in governance
xii.               Facilitating vulnerable groups to influence governance processes
xiii.              Use of modern ICT tools in sharing information and causing action in governance
xiv.             Using physical platforms e.g. Neighbourhood Assemblies to improve the livelihoods of the members
xv.               Setting up livelihood projects
xvi.              How to sustain the physical platforms and advocacy campaigns
xvii.           Entrepreneurship skills
xviii.         Reporting and report writing
xix.              Basic knowledge on key government policies
xx.               Role of elected leaders and civil servants in implementing government policies
xxi.             OTHERS (Specify)

---

[1] 3 Means Good; 2 Means Fair; 1Means Poor.

[2] 3 Means Good; 2 Means Fair; 3 Means Poor.