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.

Lack of District staff affects service delivery in Bundibugyo District.

Lack of District staff affects service delivery in Bundibugyo District. By Francis Tusiime 10/9/2014 Bundibugyo The Bundibugyo Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mr.Hood Nsubuga has disclosed that lack of enough staff at the District has affected service delivery. He disclosed that 80% of the staff are in substantive positions and this fail the district to take some positions according to the law of Uganda. This has failed some departments to spend the money and this has resulted into taking back money to the central government but living many activities paralyzed. Nsubuga said that the government has tried to recruit some staff but because Bundubugyo is a hard to reach area the employees run away. In a bid to improve health sector the district pain every Doctor Shillings 1 million per month but due to under funding by the central government the district will be un able to manage service delivery financial year 2014/15. He futher disclose the central government has failed to provide enough budget allocation the activities. The district budgeted for 23 billion for the official year 2014/15 but only the central government has allocated only shillings 500 millions. speaking during a service delivery meeting in Bundibugyo organized by Tooro Development Net work, said that the district is likely to fail even to carry out some activities and the most affected department is the health department. Mr.Charlse Kisembo Salube the District health officer said that he had a budget of 1billion but he budget is not even going to be funded half. This is putting health department at risk in the district to fail offering services. He said that Bundibugyo being neighboring to Congo its prone to Ebola outbreak but the district don’t have enough money to handle such cases because of lack of enough money in the financial year 2014. Pastor.Peter Bamwitirebye the District Education Officer Bundibugyo said that in the district all primary schools lack desks and class rooms and this have failed children retention in schools. School drop outs is very high, pupils abandon schools because of the poor service at schools.

Monthly Press conference launched in Bundibugyo.

Monthly Press conference launched in Bundibugyo. By Francis Tusiime 10/9/2014 Kabarole In Bid to promote transparency and Accountability in Bundibugyo District,Bundibugyo Media Practitioners Forum with support from Torro Development Net work has launched a monthly press conference in Bundibugyo District. Solomon Akugizibwe the communications officer Tooro development Net work said that the purpose of the press conference is to improve service delivery advocacy by local citizens, improve accountability from local leaders and improve the participation of the marginalized population groups of rural youth and women in governance. Jolly Tibemanya the Bundibugyo District chairman LC5 said that the initiative of press conference is relevant in the time when there is corruption, shoddy work in government Tibemanya said that in the previous years there has been poor service delivery because technical staff and leaders were not being engaged by any person. Hood Nsubuga the deputy CAO Bundibugyo said that there is still a great challenge of understaffing in the District and this has affected service delivery. He said that 80%of the civil servants are in acting positions, because people are recruited but the district being hard to rich they live jobs. Pr.Peter Bamwitirabye the District education officer said that the education still face a challenge of lack of desks for learners, this affects children retention in schools in Bundibugyo.

Nkoma advocacy forum launched in Kamwenge District.

Nkoma advocacy forum launched in Kamwenge District. By Francis Tusiime20/08/2014 Kabarole In a bid to promote transparency and accountability in Kamwenge district, members of Nkoma advocacy group supported by Tooro development network has today launched the association to get accreditation and recognition from the local leaders. Miss.Hariet Mujuni the chairperson of the forum said that they will be carrying out advocacy, research; lobby funds from government, NGOs and also promote accountability in the area. She observed that Kamwenge District is lagging behind in development because of lack of accountability amongst the technical people in the District. Mrs Mujuni disclosed that money meant for development activities in the area has been diverted by the District workers but no action has been taken because of lack of civil society and advocacy forums that engages them. Solomon Akugizibwe media and Communications officer advised the advocacy group should not only stop at launching but also should extend advocacy to make their leaders accountable. He also warned against involving politics in the advocacy forum that this may fail the group and divert it from its mission and goals. Akugizibwe also should help to sensitize the public about their constitutional rights like the access to information act, freedom of speech and expression this will empower them to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders. Mr.Elijah Biryabalema the Kamwenge resident District Commissioner (RDC) speaking at the launch held at Nkoma sub county headquarters said that the members should register the forum with District and National level to have greater lobbying opportunities.