Rubango Primary School is located in Katooke Sub County,
Kyenjojo District. The school holds a total number of over one hundred and
fifty pupils with only six teachers. The school had only one toilet that was
constructed by parents which was in a sorry state and being used by both teachers
and pupils. There was also a problem of water access, as the school used a nearby
swampy well. Rural monitors intervened to save the situation by using ICT tools
like radios and phones to raise the issue to the concerned leaders. 

“Rubango Primary School was in a sorry state. We went on
radio and talked about the issue several times appealing to different local
leaders both at the district and sub county levels to intervene. We also used
other plat forms like face book to post the pictures of the dilapidated structures.
As I talk, two toilets have been built at the school, and also water has been connected.
However, we are still going ahead to see that the school gets new buildings,
because the existing ones are in a poor condition and not enough”, said Muzoora
Godwin, the Chairperson Of Katooke People’s Forum in Katooke Sub County,
Kyenjojo District.

ToroDev’s M&E Officer Shilla Amanya at Katooke market

Rural monitors have also gone ahead to advocate for better
services in Katooke town council most especially the market. “Katooke market
attracts many local citizens from areas of Katooke Town Council, Kyarusozi,
Muhoro, Mabira, and Bufunjo and among other Sub Counties. However, the market
is in a poor state with poor market stalls and a muddy compound. The market
also has a health problem with a two stance latrine that was constructed in
June 2014, and is being shared by market vendors and the town council. ”, said Mujunju
Francis, the Secretary of Katooke People’s Forum.

ToroDev’s Shilla at the 2 stance latrine in Katooke T/C

Meanwhile, the rural monitors are also lobbing for better
roads in their sub county. “Our roads are all poor apart from Myeri Road that
was previously worked on. Roads like Nyakisi – Kisojo, Kafunda, Kinogero – Hamuzigiti,
Nyamwandara – Kisangwa, Nyakisi – Rubango, Irara – Ikoba – Munjeru, Munjeru –
Kabatooro are all poor with a lot of pot holes.  This is affecting the local people’s transport most especially
farmers who are facing a hindrance of accessing markets. We have approached
our local leaders and they are promising to work on some of the roads”, said Mugisa
Innocent, a member of Katooke People’s Forum.

The advocacy forums are supported by SIDA/CIPESA on a
project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement
in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.