Background

This is an AAMP (Area-based Agricultural Modernisation Programme) project which is contracting feeder roads in 5 sub-counties of Kabale district. The specific road in question is in Kabale District, Kashambya sub-county and it links Kashambya trading centre with Butambi through Rugoma village.

KICK assistance to the communities

• Phrasing their complaints in correct English.
• Guiding communities to sign their complaints in the form of a petition.
• Forwarding their petition to relevant authorities – IGG, CAO, LCV Chairman, RDC and on FM radio.

Immediate responses

• AAMP Coordinator complained on phone that the method used is wrong
• IGG ordered an immediate investigation and attached a specific case officer
• RDC led a team of responsible organizations and departments to investigate complaints. He held a rally with the communities concerned
• Another team from Kampala visited the site
• The Regional Inspectorate office of the IGG independently visited the site

Results

• Other communities have taken the cue to complain about poorly constructed feeder roads in their areas. Vigor in complaining about the same contractor's quality have since been aired in writing and on radio from Muko, Butanda, Buhara, Kamuganguzi and Kaharo sub-counties. Many of them are under the same programme and being handled by the same contractor.
• The Kakirimizi – Mukyogo part of the road in question has been re-graded and widened.
• The Mukyogo – Rugoma part of the same road has been improved with better drainage facilities.
• The RDC has issued instructions that no completion certificate should be signed until he is satisfied that community concerns have been addressed.
• A report of findings and action by the IGG is awaited.
• There is great possibility that further improvements on the road are in the offing.
• KICK is in the limelight as a community empowerment facility.

The first KICK trial case provided a vivid confirmation that community empowerment is a mighty tool to fight corruption, and enables rural communities to receive efficient service delivery from government and that a certificate of completion would be signed in spite of the fact that the road is impassble by any form of vehicle.

Other incidences of interest contunue to happen

Is it possible that the following happenings are related to the case in question or they are just coincidences?

• Another fleet of vehicles (clearly not from Kabale) drove through the unfinished road and one of the district officials who escorted them seemed to indicate that his guests were not happy with the community report.
• The Regional Inspectorate of the IGG's office has not honored his vowed promise of giving KICK a report in November or December 2006
• It appeared to us that KICK relations with the Kabale-based Regional Inspectorate office of the IGG have cooled or even brocken for reasons the Officer in charge of the office could not explain. We seem to learn from the ACCU Secretariat that the top leadership of the office of the IGG has advised their Regional offices of the absence of need for collaborating with civil society efforts fighting corruption.

The positive happening however is that the same contractor under the same programme is now constructing a new road in Ikumba sub-county to a very remote area of Kiyebe is actually doing a good job of it.

Background

In Kanungu the CAO allegedly had discouraged and disallowed political corruption in the form of tenders being awarded to companies indirectly owned by prominent politicians. The relationship between the CAO and both political and public leaders deteriorated and had become hostile. Administrative efficiency was affected. KICK asked for further information.

Immediate responses

• KICK failed to get a written report from the CAO
• Hostilities, manoeuvers and counter manoeuvers continued

Results

• The CAO in question was transferred. RAC may be interested to learn that he is the CAO Bundibugyo district.
• District leaders made a mammoth party
• KICK's concern was highlighted on anti-corruption day as a long term advocacy issue

Kick is concerned about the possibility of government officers being victimized for their anti-corruption stance in executing their duties. We need such officers to be our allies. Any similar or related case will be reviewed from time to time.

ACCU visit

On 12th and 13th September ACCU visited KICK to plan the ACW programme together and to make field visits practising the agreed key ACW activities.

Executive Committee meeting

On 30th Sept 2006, KICK held an executive committee meeting to develop a district – level anti-corruption week plan. In order to attain effectiveness and consistence, key ACW activities to do with UPE were demonstrated to the member district representatives by the KICK Secretariat at the nearby Junction Primary School.

KICK Secretariat field visit

The KICK development worker Liz Willoughby and the KICK Coordinator Ankwasa Warren made a round trip visiting each district to

• Ensure coordination of ACW activities
• Answer operational issues
• Monitor anti-corruption activities
• Provide the available logistical support needed for the success of the ACW activities

A week was spent travelling to cover all the 4 districts.

Programmes covered

In accordance with discussions, plans and budget made with intensive KICK/ACCU consultations, the following programmes were the focus of ACW - Inspection of a few UPE schools to test the access to information situation, adherence to UPE guidelines and possible corrupt vices - Direct access to school pupils to get their first hand view on corruption in UPE. This was done through an essay/ poem/graphic competitive presentations in P6 classes - School Management committees / Parent Teachers Associations workshops of UPE schools at sub-county level to make a first hand grassroot analysis of corruption in UPE and come out with key stakeholders’ own views of community participation in the control corruption in UPE - Over and above these common programmes, each district used its own initiative and took advantage of its local circumstances to undertake anti-corruption activities as they deemed fit - The Secretariat made a publicity assault - Kisoro as hosts to the ACW 2006 made loud and effective launch activities - Kanungu took advantage of the activities to strengthen KICK relations with UDN activities in the district - Rukungiri strengthened its internal management and implementation capacity

Detailed reports are being made at the District level

• Sample ground level activities/observations/findings/results
• Media publicity. Although the budget did not accommodate a specific FM radio programme, voluntary efforts and some little funding caused anti-corruption discussions, announcements, news headlines and live phone-ins to feature prominently on the wide coverage Voice of Kigezi
• The office of the IGG (Regional Inspectorate) included the KICK Head of Secretariat as a panelist in their half-hour programme during the ACW
• The Kanungu NGO/CBO Forum Executive Committee was also able to participate in an anti-corruption discussion in their local FM radio

Parents and Teachers Associations views

All the 4 districts gathered views from PTAs in their pilot sub-counties in response to who are the key stakeholders in UPE and how parents/teachers will participate directly in demanding for efficient services for their children under UPE.

Access to information and transparency in UPE management

Each district visited 4-10 primary schools to assess the level of transparency. Specific reports will follow but a few case results will suffice to illustrate the importance of the visits.

• At Kabahesi Primary school visited by ACCU and KICK officials, a Headmaster found managing the school by proxy has been summoned to the office of the IGG
• At Kizinga Primary School in Kaharo sub county visited by Kabale Civil Society Forum, a pit latrine constructed under SFG did not survive the first rainy day. Teachers spent the whole night and day searching for absentee pupils to ensure that none had perished in the latrine crush. We have no evidence of anyone having been interdicted over this case including those who supervised the works and signed completion certificate of fitness. Yet the report that was sent to all relevant officials dated 31st March 2000 is on our file and we have a record of pictures where the latrine once stood for a short while.
• At Kibuzigye Primary school visited by ACCU and KICK, the school building started by parents and funded for completion under the initial completion programme is totally incomplete many years later in spite of reports and interventions. Parents have tended to allege religious persecution by government officials as an underlying factor. They have consequently mobilized their own funds and constructed their own block just next to the unfinished one.

Corruption in UPE through the eyes of the pupils

An essay/poem/graphic presentation competition was conducted in several UPE schools in all 4 districts. We now have hundreds of records of how pupils view the corruption monster around them. Detailed results will be submitted in due course.