The old adage
that, “never judge a book by its cover”
could make more sense now at this point in time than before as the vulnerable persons
take on vertical tracking exercise in Kaberamiado. In fact, the others will also
believe that, “not all that glitters is
gold” after the findings of the exercise in vertical tracking. PAC –U in
TESO conducted a simultaneous exercise of training the vulnerable groups (PWDS)
in neighbourhood assembly business in the five districts in their TESO
operation area. They also prepared them for vertical tracking exercise in the
services’ delivery in their sub counties where a report would then be shared
with the authorities in the district but first in their neighbourhood assembly.
The day was 15th
February, on a hot Friday when the vulnerable Persons with Disability were
attending the training on Neighbourhood Assemblies in Alwa Sub County
Kaberamaido District. The members were excited to learn among others that
issues to be discussed in their NA could sometimes emanate from their vertical
tracking exercise. The Sub county chief welcomed them to the office where they were
able to gather information concercing various services the Sub County was involved
in. They were informed of the funds that were received in the previous financial
year - 2011/12 and as well as expected for this financial year – 2012/13. In
their wisdom, they decided to take on the area of education where the sub
county authorities informed them that they had procured 40 desks for three schools
(Oyama Eolu P/S, Oriamo P/S, Katingi P/S) at a cost of 3,398,699/= under
financial year 2011/2012. A team of four members was chosen to carry out this
exercise and report to the rest on their subsequent meeting.
On an agreed day
16th/ 02/ 13, the four members committee together with the CEW-IT
officials headed for the three schools that had benefited under the programme.
When the team visited the first school, they noticed the supplier had signed in
the visitor’s book as having delivered 12 desks which the school authorities
acknowledged having received. However, on the inscription on the desk, by the
supplier was “supply of 37 desks 3 seater
to Alwa Sub county FY 2011/12 By Doma Eng. Works”. At this point the team
was face to face with the reality of vertical tracking as the numbers were
already varying as of the Sub county and the Supplier. Meanwhile, the team went
on with the head count of the desks and all the 12 desks were realised.
On the visit to
the second school, the team noticed that the supplier had signed to have
delivered the same 12 desks similar to the first school. The Head teacher in
the school consented having received them. However, this time the head count
only realised four exposing eight to missing in the school. At the same time, a
new and serious issue was unearthed concerning value of money. This was the
fact that among the four, one of them was unpalatable for use as the top was
already off yet in the same class desks delivered under SFG FY 2003/4 were
still intact as if they were new.
A visit to the
third school, confirmed that the supplier had signed to have delivered 18 desks
which the authorities conquer with. The team went a head to count the desks and
only realised 11 yet none had got spoilt or any thigh of the sort as from the
reports. The desks which were made for three seater were found to be seating on
average 6 small kids and 5 medium sized pupils.
All in all, the
team revealed that where as the sub county authorities claim to have procured forty
desks, the supply claims to have supplied 37 as from his inscription on the desk
while the beneficiaries attest to receiving
forty two desks but the head count realised only thirty five of all these. The
social accountability questions at this point become many but just a quick one
and probably the first would be, which of these figures is the correct figure and
therefore telling the truth and what the value for money in this project to the
common citizen. These were part of the question to be pondered on during the NA
and the dialogue at the district and the sub county.
Accessed from Email by: Celestin Mugisha
CEWIT-Soroti
