MASINDI DISTRICT NGO FORUM

On the Ground: Enabled and Empowered CSOs and Communities.
Masindi District NGO Forum Human Rights Action.

Background and Introduction
In recent years, growing awareness that large number of the vulnerable social groups; the youth, women, PWDs and children are affected by poverty, hunger, violance, abuse, exploitation and inadquate health care and education has led to increased concern for their protection and promotion of their rights and welfare. At the same time, there has been a shift in thinking which increasingly views the marginalised groups not as passive victims but as more active participants and contributors to their  own developments. International policy, the UN Convention on the ‘’Universal Declaration of Human Rights’’ has played an important role in promoting poor centred and Rights-based approaches to issues of children, PWDs, Women, Youth work, education, health etc.

Independent Development Fund (IDF) responded to this shift in thinking, setting up an option in supporting Civil Society in Uganda, Masindi district NGO Forum has been a key beneficiary to this initiative. The initiative which is very much community driven has led to implementation of a project entitled ‘’Empowering Citizens to engage in Rights Based Approaches’’  by Masindi district NGO Forum. This project is being implemenented in Kiryandongo district in three Sub counties of Mutunda, Masindi port and Kigumba reaching around 148,500 direct beneficiaries and over 2,790,962 indirect beneficiaries more than the planned target number in the districts of Masindi, Hoima, Kibale, Buliisa, (Mid Western region), Apac, Nakasongola, Nebbi and part of Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the survey conducted by REODS GROUP, in March 2010 contracted by Masindi District NGO Forum with funding from IDF, under Rights based approach, it indicated that 40% of people don’t participate in local governance process and of the 69% who participated did so only in five years during election, Women have generally been left out of leadership and decision making roles and young people generally feel powerless and excluded from the political process. Alongside lack of interest and understanding about local government, young people often do not know how to participate and those who do are not given any opportunity to do so. The study further indicated that, 67% of the population in the project area never knew any human rights law and legislation. 35.7% indicated that their rights had ever been violated while 20% are unaware whether their rights had been violated in any way. Against this, the project is purposed to have a well informed Civil Society Organisation and Community members of their Human rights and how they can effectively participate in the decision making process to change power relations.

Masindi district NGO Forum has directed particular attention to number of activities, plat- forms and avenues in promoting, protecting and technical capacity-building of individuals at district and local levels. Worth noting in this regard is that Masindi district NGO Forum is the lead partner in creating awareness on Human rights and responsibities, establishing and sitting on number of health desks in various sectors like health, elections, education etc. Production of quarterly reports on human rights monitoring and compliance in the project area, capacity development trainings on Human rights approaches, dialogue and engagement meetings with leaders on Human rights, alliance building with CSOs on Human rights issues, development and distribution of information materials among others.

Getting Results/Key achievements

1. Improvement in service delivery by Local Government. This is through, declaration of information, collective community planning for 25%  village allocations from Sub Counties; Repair of Mutunda H/C111 ambulance; Female staffing in Kinyara and Nyama Primary schools Kigumba Sub County and transfer of lazy civil servants in Masindi port among others.
   
   
2. Improvement in financial accountability by Local governments through, declaring budgets and releases on NAADS, NUSURF, CDD. There is also blacklisting of companies doing shoddy works and others halted from their work until pending contracts are completed. This has made corruption a risky and futile venture in Kiryandongo and Masindi due to exposure of shoddy works.
   
   
3. Improved resource allocation for women and other marginalised groups. For example, Kigumba Sub County increased the budget for the youth and women for the 2010/2011 financial year. Local government support towards Human Rights Days has been realised. For example, support towards World AIDS Day. Kiryandongo District Local Government contributed 1,000,000= towards the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
   
   
4. Strong partnership with the Local Government and CSOs through moral support and financial contributions to MDNF activities. Child Fund International-Kiryandongo contributed 1,100,000= towards the 16 Days of Human Rights Activism against Gender Based Violence. RDP-U, MURDA among others have been supportive towards the project. Their participation and continuous commitment towards the project helps and broadens networking and collaborations in promoting Human Rights.
   
   
5. Increased community civic competence and assertiveness on community concerns. This is evidenced through increased community participation in Local government planning and budgeting process, reporting Human Rights violations, demanding and advocating for their rights. Kigumba Sub county residents called the Deputy RDC to explain insecurity threats that had hit the Sub County following the emergency of iron bar hit men and robbers. The  Deputy RDC intervened through deploying Rapid Response Unit Police leading to arrest of two robbers and rescue of two guns
   
   
6. Community holding their leaders accountable on Human Rights issues. Community calling for the transfer of lazy and uncommitted civil servants for example, Residents of Waibango Parish Masindi port led to the transfer of  Health in charge of Masindi Port H/C111 and replaced by Ondoru Christine; the OC  Kigumba police post was reported and replaced immediately by the OC Kiryandongo Police Station. This has led to quick response from police, and authorities whenever called upon.
   
   
7. Community empowerment and awareness on their rights and responsibilities in challenging impunity. For example, community of Kigumba has continued to challenge charging of police bond, late reporting of civil servants in Masindi port Sub County, cases of defilement reported to police and culprits reprimanded.
   
   
8. Access to vital advocacy information for example, audit reports, work plans, allocations, beneficiaries and running projects and their performance. This is done through surveillance demand for information and networking with allies. For example, Mutunda H/C 111 ambulance was repaired and driver posted after District Health Officer Masindi engaged and availing MDNF information on the ambulance.
   
   
9. Increased community participation in government programmes and economic activities through group formations.  In 2010 eight community groups benefiting from government programmes such as NAADS, CDD in the project area were formed through Community Human Rights Monitors’ mobilisation; two in Mutunda Sub county- Waryem Chan youth and Empowerment, Bahati yetu Group; three in Kigumba Sub County; Kigumba Town Council Youth Association, Kigumba United Group and Kigumba Town Council in Action and three in Masindi port-Kemigisa Farmers Group, Kaduku Youth Group and Kagambakamu Group.
   
   
10. Reduced school drop outs in UPE schools. 15 school going children have been returned to school as result of immense monitoring and follow up by Community Human rights monitors. For example, in Masindi Port Sub County children of Kasiano Adrani and Kanino Alice of Kaduku 1 village returned their two children Mambo Aguako and Katusabe Judith in P.4 and P.2 respectively in Kizibu Junior Primary School.  Two PWDs children sent to school for handicapped and availed with wheelchairs
    
    
11. Capacity building and enhancement of CSOs and community members in Rights Based Approaches was conducted. 21 CSOs and 32 key stakeholders were offered capacity development trainings in Rights Based Approaches. Radio talk shows and other activities have been offered to member organisations for example, UPACLED, MADDIPU; RDP-U, TASO among others. Besides, through out 2010 they have been involved and active in the project activities.
12. Family reunion and stability through Community Human Rights sensitization, counselling and guidance by Community Human Rights Monitors. Thirty eight  families have been reunited; the family of Henry Timon of Kigumba Kitwanga Cell reunited with the wife among others
    
    
13. Protection of individuals from Human Rights violation through engagements and dialogue with the leaders. Adong Catherine and Ogwang George of Masindi port Sub County reposed their gardens of crops in Masindi port Primary Schools, Ngarusas Constance retained her land in Kigumba among others. Over ninety seven cases were solved and others refereed to police, Legal aid, RDC and other relevant offices

    Challenges

1. Political interference; e.g. LCs Chairpersons that were involved in misuse of 25% village allocations from Sub Counties threatened our resource monitor and made alliance with the minister to criticize our work; we later held a press conference and released a statement in New Vision paper to clarify our position, relating to our interventions and work.
2. Very limited information available to local communities and civil society to be sufficiently involved in decision-making. Lack of information leads to suspicion and mistrust, and creates divisions. This is coupled with insufficient research and policy and uncoordinated research institutions and service providers.
3. Limited resources to implement strategic accountability monitoring activities
4. Lack of proper documentation of case stories by field staff and Community Human rights monitors as they lack documentary gargets such as cameras.
5. Threats from culprit through anonymous calls, attempted assaults, attempted Kidnaps, direct verbal attacks

The year ahead

Masindi district NGO Forum’s advocacy response and readiness plans for 2011 and a head are in place within the context of creating awareness, protecting and promoting Human rights and individual responsibilities in development path that affect them, as well as the complexity and humanitarian impact of Human rights violations. We are also building upon what was done and learned in 2010. Regardless of geographical location, we will continue to advocate for the establishment of a protective environment for the most vulnerable.