Citizens Face candidates in Kabarole –Fort-portal

Citizens in Kabarole –Fort portal municipality have started presenting their demands to the candidates within the district as away to have their demands incorporated in their different manifestos. This process is organized by civil society organizations (Integrated Women Development Program-IWDP and Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition-RAC) who are observing the election process in the Rwenzori Region.

This process is supported by Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and Rwenzori Consortium for Civic competence (RWECO).

The debates are aimed at enhancing the capacity of citizens to present their demands to the candidates contesting for different positions in order to have citizens demands incorporated in the manifestos of the leaders.

In attendance was;

1. Dr.Kagoro Kaijo Murubi-Chairperson LCV Kabarole

2. Alex Ruhunda – M Fort-portal Municipality (NRM)

3. Asaba Ruyonga –Mayor Fort portal municipality (NRM)

4. Baguma Patrick-Mayor Fort portal Municipality (FDC)

5. Mwanguhya Kadama-Mayor-Fort portal (independent)

6. Turyahebwa Remegious –Chairperson LC111 Rwimi (FDC)

7. Kaguma Ronald Wilberforce-District Councilor (independent)

8. Kyensi Buruhan-District Councilor (FDC)

9. Dan Rubombora-District Councilor south division

10. Mashuhuko Joseph-District Councilor

11. Kayonda Gilbert-Councilor (NRM)

12. Nyakaisiki Jackie Judith-Women Councilor West Division

More information coming soon

CCEDU ENLIGHTENS VOTERS IN WEST NILE

CCEDU ran her first radio talk show on ARUA ONE FM station yesterday from 8:00 to 9:00pm on "The Role of the Citizens in Setting a New agenda for Electoral Democracy in Uganda".
It was presented by Rev. Fr. Caesar Dralega, an ambassador for the popularization of the Citizens' Manifesto in West Nile and Mr. Andio Jimmy of CEFORD, a member of CCEDU.
Based on the outlines of election history in Uganda and what CCEDU is doing to influence the electorate especially to honor their votes for better election practices in Uganda, one of the callers requested CCEDU to maintain the program up to the polling days and allover the country. He was assured that CCEDU will carry out a nation wide Voter education pakalast!
It was highly appreciated and recommended, so let us KEEP THE LIGHT SHINING.

The First day of Parliamentary elections Campaigns in West Nile

Several directly elected and District Women MPs were all out with everything that can attract crowds in their first campaigns across West Nile.

Otunu blames Museveni for Ombaci massacre, poverty, declininig standards of education in West Nile

Otunu asked Arua people not to vote for Museveni and blamed him

He said that Museveni and the people around him like his ministers, commanders, secretaries etc are all corrupt. They steal the money of this country which would have been used to develop other sectors like health, education, agriculture etc. Museveni did not only bring poverty in Busoga, but also jiggers. He therefore referred to Museveni as a president and chief of stealing.

“I have been around here and seen children moving naked due to poverty and this has broken my heart a lot”. The people of Arua are hard working people who do not deserve that. He said that it is a programmed poverty because Museveni repeatedly said that he is happy when people are poor and if the people of Arua do not give him votes, they will suffer from poverty. Therefore it is a deliberate poverty planned by Museveni. He then referred to Museveni as a president of poverty and destruction because he destroyed all the institutional structures that he found in Uganda like banks, schools, hospitals, roads etc.

Face the citizens Update from CCEDU

Dear Members,

Thank you all for your support in the implementation of the Face the Citizens Debate Series.

The CCEDU Face the Citizens Debate Series has so far been successfully held in the Towns of Mbale,Arua,Kasese and Mbarara. On 11th December 2010,the Debate series will be held in Masaka at the Golf Line Hotel starting 9.00am.

Thus far,our success has been largely due to the support we have received from partner members of the CCEDU Platform.

In Mbale,Mr. Yusuf Makweta, the Human Rights Representative-CCEDU Advisory Board and BUSINET were key to the the success of the Series, while in Arua,we largely relied on the support of another platform member CEFORD.

In this regard,we have also finalized mobilization arrangements for Gulu(18th Dec) and Fort Portal (21st Dec) Towns with other partner members ACORD and RWECO . However,the secretariat still has room to co- opt any members who wish to participate or contribute to the success of the remaining part of the series.

Further more,our partners,CEW-IT of which RWECO are consortium members made a special request and offer to host and facilitate a RADIO FM version of the Debate Series which were successfully held in Kasese Town on 9th December 2010.

The highly successful event was a first for CCEDU in the region and was held as a special product extension program. A total of 12 aspirants including the sitting Member of Parliament from the Kasese region attended the lively Debate which was aired live on two Radio Stations- Kasese Guide FM and Radio Messiah FM for two and half hours.

I also wish to inform members that a recorded master tape of each of the past Debates is available at the CCEDU secretariat.

Lastly,by dint of this letter,we extend a formal invitation to any of our esteemed member(s) and Board who may wish to participate in the remaining Debates to contact Ms. Cissy Kyeyene ofWIZARTS Media Ltd,our official Media Agency for the Debates on tel.0704 470 214 or myself on tel no. 0787 299 144.

We request members to send in any opinions or advice that may help improve our operations.

Kind regards,

Gwada Ogot

FACE THE CITIZENS CITIZENS MANIFESTO LAUNCHED IN KASESE DISTRICT

KALI and Good Hope with support from HIVOS and OXFAM- NOVIB launched the citizens’ manifesto. This interface has created a plat form ( Ekimeza) for all the dully elected MPs and LC V chair persons to interface with the purposively selected citizens and CSOs from Kasese district before the official launch of campaigns on the 16^th December 2010. This citizens manifesto is the first of its kind to be launched in Kasese at Kasese Catholic Social Hall.

The launch was broadcasted live on all the two local radio stations, Kasese Guide Radio and Messiah radio.

Gwada Ogot from the citizens’ coalition and Patrick Kamara from NTV moderated the function.

The NTV crew team and the local media in Kasese district have pledged to popularize the manifesto. The listeners out side (callers) were allowed to enrich the Ekimeza programme through calling and reacting to the Citizens manifesto issues.

Through out the interface, the voters were able to put to the candidates to task to respond to their concerns. Below are the issues of concern from the citizens per constituency.

Kasese Municipality

1. Nyamwamba division is faced with the problem of floods how are going to control the menace?

Busongora South

1. There is a problem of safe water in Katwe- Kabatoro Town council, how are you going to address this problem?

2. People of Karusandara are regarded as squatters on the land, what are going to ensure that the people get land titles? (They live on reserve land.)

Busongora North

Muhindo David

1. There is a serious water problem in Kitswamba, how are the candidates going to solve the problem?

Kyarumba-Bukonzo East

1. There are increased costs of Health services in Kagondo hospital despite government subsidizing services. What does subsidizing of health services help the people and how are going to end the problem?

Bukonzo West

1. How are you going to address the problem of scarcity of water in Nyakiyumbu Sub county?

2. Bwera hospital is incapacitated when it comes to number of personnel to run it. How are you going to address this problem to ensure that the number of doctors and nurses is adequate?

3. There is a motion to divide the district into three, what is your take on this?

Through out the dialogue, the candidates responded to the issues raised. The issue of water and division of the district was prominent through out the debate.

List of candidates in attendance

No.	Name of candidate	Sex	Party Affiliation	Constituency
1	Hon. Bwambale Yokasi Bihande	M	FDC	Bukonzo East
2	Mr. Businge Police	M	NRM	Bukonzo East
3	Mr. Mbahimba James	M	NRM	Kasese Municipacility
4	Mr. Bwambale Musa Syahuka Jr	M	FDC	Kasese Municipality
5	Mr. Mujungu Gideon	M	Independent	Kasese Municipality
6	Mr.Mbaguta Ronald	M	Independent	Kasese Municipality
7	Mr. Ategeka B.	M	Independent	Kasese Municipality
8	Mr. Mbaju Jackson	M	FDC	Busongora South
9	Mr. Kahungu Philmon	M	PPP	Bukonzo East
10	Mr. Isingoma Raymond	M	UFA	Kasese Municipality
11	Mr. Musyenene Umar Musabingwa	M	JEMA	Kasese Municipality

Concern

· Representation of women candidates was non existent therefore issues concerning women missed out

· Candidates for LCV seat were all absent hence the views on issues affecting the district missed out

· The dialogues was too brief that most issues were not addressed

Issues of concern

Inadequate access Safe Water

High costs of health services/Theft of drugs

Environment-Floods

Division of the district

By Godfrey at KALI