Kabarole RDC attack councilors over poor reading culture.

Kabarole RDC attack councilors over poor reading culture. By Francis Tusiime 29/10/2014 Kabarole The Kabrole District RDC Mr.Stephene Asiimwe has attacked councilors for not reading information tabled in councils and this has led to poor service delivery in the district and sub counties. Asiimwe observed that some councilors go to councils to second motions but they don’t put in their own input and the needs of their areas are left behind. He said that majority of the councilors don’t know how to read and even is sub counties others don’t know how to write. Asiimwe said that the government needs to train councilors on deliberations and also challenged the public to vote for competent leaders. The RDC said that the councilors are ignorant about the laws and the constitution this gives a chance to technical persons in their areas to utilize their ignorance to steal money. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two days workshop Annual regional reflection conference 2014,organized by Tooro Development Net work under the theme Public Accountability for improved service delivery and poverty reduction in the Rwenzori region held at at Lisuiex guest center in Fort Portal, the RDC said that the councilors also fear to lobby for funds from government because they can’t write proposals and also can’t write concepts. The leaders should not stop at only focus at signing for allowances but also should focus on the output for the people they represent. Mr.Johnstone Baguma the Director Tooro development Net work accused the councilors and other leaders to have a challenge of lack of a reading culture. If someone is informed and exposed to the information that is within his areas of operation such a person can contribute articulately while demanding accountability He said that government should put up a strategy where by the leaders are availed with the relevant information that concern their area. Baguma said that the councilors they don’t know what to ask because they ignorant of the quality and quantity o what they are supposed to benefit from the government. Mary Rwakyaka the councilor South Division Fort Portal Municipality however said that the leaders are not given enough time to read and articulate the information that is given to them.

Residents of Rwimi demand trainings from leaders.

Residents of Rwimi demand trainings from leaders. By Francis Tusiime Kabarole Residents of Rwimi town council are demanding agriculture, business trainings from local leaders in Kabarole district to develop their skills and then fight poverty in their area. Isingoma Joseph a resident of Gatyanga Village in Rwimi town council said that leaders have focused on fundrising for functions, attending funerals, parties but they have not helped in organizing trainings to empower their communities. He said this has contributed to looming poverty in the villages. Byaruhanga Christopher a resident of Kyakatabazi in Rwimi village said that the leaders need to lobby government to support business and agriculture trainings to equip local with advanced knowledge on how to run their business at the national and international standards. Speaking during a training on mushroom growing and cake baking organized by peace Mutuzo at Rwimi town council headquarters, Florence Kahwa of Rwimi Town council said that women need a lot of basic trainings so as to create their own income generating activities. Peace Mutuzo working with the office of the president pledged to organize basic trainings for women in Kabarole District in order to empower them create income generating activities in their homes.

5 Fort Portal Municipality officials arrested.

5 Fort Portal Municipality officials arrested. By Francis Tusiime 17/10/2014 Kabarole Fort Portal Police is holding John Bosco Assistant Town Clerk South Division,Rymond the treasurer, Karwani Michel Municiapal Commercial officer ,Clovis Mugasa the town agent East division and Paul Mugambwa court Bailiff and resident of Rwengoma C II West division Fort Portal municipality on theft related cases. According to Police the administrators were yesterday thrown into frenzy after areport was made at police by municipal authorities. It’s alleged that John Bosco Rusoke the Assitsnt town clerk and the treasure identified as Rymond were involved in the embezzlement of unspecied amount of money. The two suspects, are accused of opening alternative and secret Bank accounts in UBA, are the Assistant Town Clerk South division John Bosco Rusoke and the treasurer of the same division Raymond It is alleged that the two connived with a Bank official of the same Bank and opened a secret Bank account where they have been depositing part of the local revenue which they would siphon off for personal use. A few months ago, the Mayor Asaba Edison Ruyonga warned that he had uncovered a gang of officials who where altering bank accounts to deposit their ill-gotten funds. Reports say the two suspects were tracked down while presenting their Bank accounts to the Chief Finance Officer and kept the controversial account out of the list they submitted. Mayor Ruyonga says they tipped Police which investigated the incident right from the Bank which resulted into the arrest of the two Men. Asaba says this is the beginning of his campaign against corruption and vowed to arrest more such people. Fort Portal municipality commercial officer Karwani Michael and two others have also have been detained at Fort Portal police station for the alleged forgery of documents and council minutes. The others are Clovis Mugasa the town agent East division and Paul Mugambwa court Bailiff and resident of Rwengoma C II West division Fort Portal municipality. Mugambwa was picked from his home on Wednesday afternoon by the police while Clovis Mugasa and Karwani Michael were nabbed when the police summoned them to make statements yesterday. It has been alleged that the suspects were netted over allegations that they forged documents and sold two vehicles belonging to the municipality. According to police investigations, in 2010 council reported that two vehicles Reg No.LG 0054/14 Lorry and UG 0637/M Double Cabin were rotting in the St.Joseph's Technical Institute garage after technocrats failed to pay money for repair worth shs 600,000. Investigations reveal that Karwani Michael while working as acting town clerk and Clovis Mugisa forged the minutes and indicated that council had resolved to sell the two vehicles and got shs2.6m and paid St. Joseph Management. They gave the forged documents to the court bailiff Paul Mugambwa who went with a potential buyer and got it from the St.Joseph's Technical Institute management after presenting the documents on Sunday night. The Lorry was sold at shs3.1m and were planning to go for the double cabin vehicle. Their arrest follows a complaint lodged by the municipality mayor Edison Asaba Ruyonga claiming that the two vehicles were missing in the garage. Meanwhile, the three suspects were released on bond today and ordered to recover the lorry from Kampala where they had sold it.

Kabarole-Ntoroko boarder conflict affects service delivery.

Kabarole-Ntoroko boarder conflict affects service delivery. By Francis Tusiime Kabarole Leaders of Kicwamba Sub County in Kabarole District have disclosed that the boarder clash between Kabarole District and Ntoroko are as a result of tribal conflicts and this has affected service delivery in the area. It’s alleged that the Bakoonjo tribe alleges that they have been missing leadership posts in Nyamisingiri Parish the disputed area and they decided to join Ntoroko so as to get leadership posts, he said that this create a conflict between the two local govournments in giving services to the local people. According to Businge Charles the chairman LC3 Kicwamba the conflict between Nombe sub county in Ntoroko District and Kicwamba sub county in Kabarole District some group of Bakonjo they feel marginalized when they don’t have leadership posts and leaders and feel that the only solution is to join Ntoroko and get their posts and lobby services for their area. The disputed villages include Mabale 1, nyabibya, Nombe,Kinyamange villages which Nombe sub county claim that it belongs to them. They received a letter from the minister of local government describing the boundaries of the area. Businge said that the issue is also turning a security threat as a group of people claim to be belonging to Ntoroko and they resist despite they are given explanation. He encouraged people at the border to be conscious on every action or activity they do that are within the law. This has affect also service delivery in the two areas where by some people were registered in Ntoroko and others were registered in Ntoroko District. Nyakahuma Innocent a leader at the parish some of the people now are getting double shares from the two governments of Ntoroko and that of Kabarole.

Ignorance of the law contributes to poor service delivery.

Ignorance of the law contributes to poor service delivery. By Francis Tusiime 6/10/14 Kabarole Lack of knowledge on the rights and freedoms prescribed in the constitution has failed local people to demand accountability in Kicwamba Sub County. Gilbert Rwaheru the coordinator Kicwamba Advocacy forum said that those leaders intimidate local people when they demand accountability and confuse them with the laws which they don’t understand. Speaking during accountability meeting held at the sub county headquarters in Kicwamba sponsored by Tooro development Network,Rwaheru said the government ,NGOs need to educate local citizens about their rights and freedoms as prescribed in the constitution. Solomon Akugizibwe the communications officer Tooro development network said that it’s aright for any citizen to access public information from any government office. He said that people should always ask leaders and technical people about their share from the national cake and how is managed. Edson Businge the chairman LC3 Kicwamba said that such accountability meetings are important in engaging leaders and technocrats to be conscious when they want to mis- use their offices. He said that Kicwamba has achieved much in social infrastructure, health, education because the engagements by such none-government organizations.

Irregular drug supply in Kabarole affects health department.

Irregular drug supply in Kabarole affects health department. By Francis Tusiime 6/10/2014 Kabarole The Kabarole District chairman Hon.Richard Rwabuhinga has disclosed that in adequate supply of drugs in health services has affected service delivery in the health sector in Kabarole District. Addressing a service delivery press conference organized by Tooro Development in partnership with Rwenzori journalist forum the chairman said that the government is allocating little budget for drug supply. He said that currently the government allocates drugs worth shillings 700,000 per sub county which is supposed to serve 3000 people. Rwabuhinga said that this increases drugs stock out and also attract people to get drugs for stocking in their homes for emergency due to fear of drug stock outs. The chairman also said that the government in the previous financial year has not been paying health workers promptly and this affects service delivery. This has contributed irregular attendance of health workers on duty. As the district they have recruited 233 workers and who include health workers who were recruited under Baylor project, build theaters and up gadded health centers. This has improved service delivery in the health sector in the finaciual year 2014/15 and also has reduced to maternal motility rate and maternal death. Rwabuhinga also said that the number of roads has been improved and constructed to help people reach health centers for services. He calls up on the government to increase budget allocation in the health sector.