Category: Blog

ICTS and Governance in East Africa: What Lies Beyond ‘the Hype’?

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For the past year, iHub Research has been conducting a study on the impact of ICTs on governance in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Specifically, we set out to assess how ICTs are facilitating interaction between governments and citizens in the areas of civic participation (transparency and accountability), access to information, monitoring government service delivery (health, water) and tracking corruption.
We set out to interact with government institutions, civil society organizations and citizens alike. In Kenya, we conducted the study in Nairobi and Nakuru. In Uganda, we visited Kampala, Apac and Lira. In Tanzania, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.

For Preliminary findings from all locations, click HERE.
Key findings of particular interest from the three countries are:

 

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It Is Important to Have a Budget, says Expert

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The Business Lecturer Mountains of the Moon University, Mr. Mawenu Vicent has appealed local citizens especially in the Rwenzori Region to have a budget to enable them reduce wasteful expenditure and hence improve on their livelihoods.

“It’s important to have a budget, it’s also important to have the discipline to stick to your budget because it will assist you control wasteful spending. It’s also important for people to identify and plan for their basic necessities of life early like feeding, clothing, housing, etc so that they can be able to fulfill them in time to have a better life.” Said Mawenu.

A sample of the Uganda Currency (UGX 50,000)

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ToroDev Partners with Kyenjojo FM to Strengthen Accountability Broadcasting for Improved Service Delivery

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Toro Development Network (ToroDev) has started a new partnership with Kyenjojo FM based in Kyenjojo District to strengthen accountability broadcasting for improved service delivery. The new partnership involves supporting increased leaders and citizen participation on Ekyererezi and Kihikire accountability live radio discussions on Kyenjojo FM. The new partnership started on 1st October, 2014.

Advertisements will also be run to encourage more women and youth to participate in the live radio discussions. EKYEREREZI live radio discussion is broadcasted every Wednesday from 10:00pm to 12:00am and theKIHIKIRE live radio discussion is broadcasted every day of the week fromMonday to Friday (5:00 am- 6:00 am).

In addition, through the live radio discussions and radio advertisements, ToroDev in partnership with Kyenjojo FM will encourage the formation of more citizen led groups (women and youth) to form advocacy forums at both sub county and district levels to enable effective monitoring of service delivery and participation in government planning and budgeting processes.

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Leaders, Citizens and Media Discuss Accountability and Service Delivery Improvement

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Over sixty (60) local leaders, local citizens and media practitioners from the Rwenzori Sub Region participated in a reflection conference aimed at improving the convergence of appropriate ICT tools to improve accountability and service delivery especially on priority sectors like roads, schools, health and agriculture among others.

“The role of the District Information Officer is to Gather/collect, analyse, disseminate and store information on service delivery, Moblise public for participation in development programmes and activities and advise management on the need for media matters (e.g. ICT and communication needs.” Said John Thawite, the District Information Officer, Kasese.

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There is Need for Civil Society to also Give Accountability to the Public

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Local leaders have called on the civil society to also give public accountability to enable better utilization of community resources for improved livelihoods. The call was made by the Executive Director of Toro Development Network (ToroDev) Mr. Baguma Johnstone and the Kabarole district Community Based Services Coordinator Mr. Taddeo Balisanga during the weekly accountability live radio discussion called Orukurato held on Saturday, 18th October 2014 at Hits FM.

“It’s  the responsibility of every registered Civil society organization to give accountability to whoever needs it or asks for it, as Civil society organization it important to let people know, how money is spent, the services it was spent on, future the plans of the organization.” Said Johnstone Baguma.

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Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery Demands Accountability from the Local Leaders

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On 30th September 2014, members of Kicwamba Forum for Development and Service Delivery organized an accountability meeting in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole District. The meeting was attended by different local leaders both at the district and sub county level, who were able to give accountability to their local citizens. The leaders included the area councilor Hon Twesige Clovis, the LC III Chairperson Hon Businge Charles, the CDO (Community Development Officer) Kicwamba Sub County Mr. Kahingwa Stephen, the LCI Chairperson Hon Kalenzi, among others.

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ICT and Governance in East Africa: Preliminary Fieldwork Findings (Part 2) Mwanza, Tanzania

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BY VARYANNE SIKA.

The last week of August 2014 was an opportunity for the iHub Research team to explore the various ways in which ICT tools have/can successfully facilitate or hinder two way interaction between government and citizens towards effective public service delivery, curbing corruption, enhancing access to information and increasing transparency and accountability in Tanzania. The team visited Mwanza and Dar es Salaam to identify some of the innovative ICT initiatives that have facilitated the interaction between citizens and government as well as the (de)motivations for utilizing ICT tools among the various stakeholders (citizens, governments, civil society). While in Mwanza region we visited Magu district and Ilemela district.

READ ON THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN DAR-ES-SALAAM HERE.

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ICT and Governance in East Africa: Preliminary Fieldwork Findings (Part 1) Dar es salam, Tanzania

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BY VARYANNE SIKA.

The ICT and Governance in East Africa study explores the various ways in which ICT tools can/have successfully facilitated or hindered two way interaction between government and citizens towards effective public service delivery, curbing corruption, rights/access to information, as well as increasing transparency and accountability. Further we are looking into the innovative ICT initiatives that have facilitated the interaction between citizen and government as well as the (de)motivations for utilizing ICT tools among the various stakeholders (citizens, governments, civil society).

READ MORE ON THE PROJECT HERE.

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Ntoroko District Health Officer Gives the Performance of the Health Sector of Ntoroko District

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On 11th October 2014, the District Health Officer of Ntoroko District Dr. Sentamu Simon appeared on HITS FM to give the performance of the health sector in Ntoroko District. “According to the Health Center IV level of Ntoroko District, we always make orders of medicine to National Medical Stores every after two months that is worth nine million and six hundred thousand (for Karugutu Health Center IV), four million for health center IIIs, and one million and five hundred thousand for health center IIs”. The panelist was discussing on ToroDev’s live radio discussion called ‘Orukurato Program’, a live radio discussion that discusses issues of accountability every Saturday (08:00-10:00) pm.

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Update on ICT4Democracy in East Africa Network Activities January – June 2014

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By Juliet N. Nanfuka

The network of seven partners (profiles) unified under the ICT4Democracy in East Africa initiative have since 2011 jointly worked to enhance the capacity of citizens and governments in using ICTs to promote human rights, good governance and citizen participation.

Between January and June 2014, the partners each undertook activities that aimed to support the inclusivity of citizens in transparency, accountability and service delivery monitoring through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. These activities are increasing citizens’ participation in decision-making processes and strengthening democracy in the region.

The partners have each created unique approaches to encouraging citizen participation through mobile short message services (SMS), FM radio, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, crowd-mapping platforms and a toll free call centre. Research has also been conducted by some partners on the knowledge and perceptions associated with ICT use and the flow of information between citizens and government.

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