popularisation of citicens, manifeto in Arua and Maracha Districts

Above Participants at Arua district Hall d

This activity ran from 6^th -13^th Jan 2011 from sub counties to the district levels. The participants took time to understand the citizens’ manifesto as they felt manifestos were only to be written by politicians.

The citizens’ manifesto was been warmly welcomed by the people of Arua and Maracha districts, and said these were real issues which needed attention and the citizens realized that they had a role to play in the democratization and good governance of a country; the politicians as well realized they too had responsibilities to play thus its not one man’s dance but it’s a dance for all the Ugandans if the vision of “A peaceful and prosperous Uganda with happy people” is to be achieved.

How ever some few did not agree with the unsustainable population growth rates citing example of China and USA being with high population and yet their economy grows very fast thus high population growth rate is wealth. Some candidates in the ruling felt the citizens’ manifesto is a document that is meant undermine the efforts of the ruling government.

The attendance has been great all round and the citizens presented new local issues to their leaders at the various levels in relation to the 10 development concerns of the citizen’s major one being the issue of:

· Marungi (local plant commonly grown in the 2 districts and is suspected to be a narcotic drug and one fails to sleep after consuming it and it has become so popular among the youths ) which is killing education, are demanding for quick policy to address the issues of Marungi.

· Agriculture and environment yet government pays less attention, some trees promoted have impacted negatively on the environment like the Eucalyptus which are being planted near water bodies and has drained up water from the valleys.

· And it was also realized that low level of civic consciousness is to blame for low participation of the citizens in all fields as they do not know what their roles and responsibilities are in good governance and democratization.

The engagement of the aspirants with the citizens gave room for them to share and put their demands, the citizens promised to vote candidates whose manifesto addresses the CM. “… CEFORD should have come earlier than this as some people have already made wrong choices and may fail to change due to shame and rigidity” said Otuma Ben of Kijomoro.

“…if you leaders were to act the way you are talking to day I think Uganda should have been some steps in achieving the vision of A peaceful and prosperous Uganda with happy people” said Aleni Kizito a citizen in Aiivu Sub county Terego constituency Arua District.

The aspirants committed them selves to using the document as yard stick and will further propel it to the masses when ever they go for campaigns.