Background of MML e-participation system.
ToroDev with support from SPIDER and other partners since March 2016 started the development of a system called “Me & My Leader” (MML) e-Participation System, a system that uses Mobile SMS – Radio – Online/Internet technologies to promote citizens’ engagement with duty-bearers in Uganda and Kenya to improve prioritized public service delivery. Before the Development of the system ToroDev had earlier used Tracfm to gather issues for citizens on the state of service delivery in the Rwenzori Region, in 2015 Tracfm had technical problems and it was off something that influenced ToroDev to develop MML e-participation system to support the other available online platforms.
Me and My Leader (MML) is an e-Participation platform where citizens can use Internet, SMS and radio to participate in discussions. The purpose of the platform is to facilitate an open dialog between citizens and duty bearers that make citizens more involved in the governance decision making processes. By using the MML-platform, citizens will also be kept informed about ongoing government matters.
In the month of January 2018 various issues were raised through MML e-participation system focusing on health, education and other sectors that needed duty bearers attention ,one of the issues that were raised from Bufunjo sub county in Kyenjojo district was lack of drugs at Kataraza HCII located in Bufunjo sub county. The health centre had infrastructure and nurses who are earning government salary on a monthly basis but were not delivering services because the HCII had never received drugs over five years since the facility was constructed. This same issue was raised during public accountability meeting held by ToroDev in partnership with Bufunjo People forum on 30th/Jan /2018
To further present these issues raised through the system to Duty bearers, ToroDev facilitated her already initiated District Local Government -CSOs Forum coordination meeting in Kyenjojo district to present the issues raised through MML with an objective of attracting duty bearers attention to the issues and finding way forward. The issues raised during the meeting included; lack of drugs at Kataraza HC II, absenteeism of teachers and pupils, understaffing in some schools, lack of staff quarters, lack of enough furniture,child marriage and school drop-out, irregular monitoring of government schools, failure by some parents to support their children with school requirements, etc
The District health officer (DHO) Kyenjojo pledged to address the issue of Kataraza HCII without fail in the next financial year which begins July, 2018. “The Health centre will be stocked with drugs by July 2018 and we are in final stages with the ministry of health to elevate the facility (Kataraza) HC II from it’s rank of HC II to a HC III so that it can provide improved health services to the people of Bufunjo sub county and the entire district. I thank ToroDev for developing the system and sharing with us the report.” Said Dr. Charles Tusiime the DHO Kyenjojo district.
Under education sector, the District Education officer (DEO) pledged to work with CSO’s to do joint monitoring in schools to address some challenging issues raised through MML e-participation report especially on early pregnancies, late coming and absenteeism of teachers and learners, lack of supervision in schools, poor performance in UPE schools, lack of parental support to children in schools so that we can advocate for better education service delivery in the district. Already about fifteen (15) CSO’s that were part of the meeting committed themselves to work with the Kyenjojo district education department to do joint monitoring in next quarter that start in April 2018. Before April ToroDev will work with the DEO to plan for modalities of joint monitoring. ‘’We are ready as district officials to work with CSO’s in issues that need advocacy and ready to even move to Fort Portal for radio talk shows to sensitize our people and create awareness to parents especially on the importance of education’’, said Enid Kajumba the Assistant Chief Administrative officer Kyenjojo.
As ToroDev we believe the system will achieve it’s objective as we continue promoting it given the citizen’s level of participation exhibited in the two months of its implementation.
We thank SPIDER, SIDA , NED and all our partners for the financial and technical support.
