ToroDev uses live radio talk shows to engage duty bearers to give accountability and share their work plans with citizens. The talk shows are in form of debates/discussions and listeners are always given time to participate by calling in or sending an Sms to ask questions to the hosted duty bearers on issues of service delivery. The radio talkshows have bridged the gap between local citizens and duty bearers especially elected leaders who do not regularly go back to consult the electorates on their views pertaining service delivery in communities. This engagement has improved information flow and improved accountability. Different duty bearers at different levels are regularly hosted live on radio to address key issues in health, education and economic development sectors but also other development sectors like works, etc.
On 12th May 2018, the district chairperson Hon Richard Rwabuhinga was hosted live on Hits Fm radio during the ToroDev supported ”Orukurato” program that is aired every Saturday 8:00-10:00 pm to respond to issues generated from MML e-participation system for the month of April 2018. The issues presented to him for the month included; poor service delivery at Buhinga regional referral hospital where patients are not getting drugs, absenteeism of health workers, impassable roads in Harugongo, Kabende, Karangura and other sub counties in Kabarole District, insufficient services at health HC II’s, child marriage and increased dropouts in Kabende, Karangura, Kasenda, Harugongo sub counties, lack of safe and clean water in hard to reach communities, etc
In his response the district chairperson said Kinyankende-Karago -Rubona road it is true the roads are in a sorry state especially when it rains but as a district we have already received road unit maintenance equipment and we are going to buy fuel and pay labour for the driver and the turn-boy and have the roads upgraded in the financial year that begin on 1st July, 2018. some roads are under UNRA like Fort Portal-Kijura road, Rubona-Kibota road, Bulengebuna-Kinyankende road, etc we have reached UNRA and inspection of these roads is already done, soon they will start working on them. I request community members to be patient as plans to construct these roads are in place and also request you to be monitors when construction on these roads start so that we can have quality work.
The road from Bukuuku-Kazingo to Rubona, Kasisi -Kyanga to Kadindime have already got frame work contractors who will begin the construction soon and it will take 3 years. we are also following the presidential pledge of tarmacking Fort Portal- Kijura road that is expected to begin in July 2018. KAYIPU worked on 13.1Km on Isunga-Iruhura to Rwankenzi road. Mukinya – Rwankenzi road is in a sorry state but we thank the leaders of Kasenda Sub County for the follow up on that road, as a district we have resources for that road soon it will be worked on.
we are going to talk to our health workers on handling and keeping at work stations but also intensify monitoring to make sure they report early and keep at the work station until it is time to live. the issue of drugs at HCII’s, we need to continue lobbying such that all the HC II’s can be elevated to HC III’s so that they may offer better services to our people in communities. Harugongo and Kicwamba sub counties, we are in talks with National Water and Sewarage Cooperation to extend the water grid to those and other many places such that our people can access safe and clean water which will reduce water borne related diseases and congestion at health facilities. The issue of child marriage and drop out, we have planned to do sensitization meetings where parents will be mobilized to play their part in educating their children as we work on infrastructure and staffing as government.
As a district we are very sorry that Buhinga regional referral hospital is not delivering services well. We are going to write a petition as a district and present it to the Ministry of health to save our people/hospital because the issue of staffing, lack of drugs, not caring for patients are key. I request our people to be calm as we work to solve that issue as soon as we can.
During the two hours live discussion over 35 listeners called in and others sent Sms to share their comments on service delivery issues as they sought responses from the district chairperson.
