Kabarole District Engineer Quizzed By UPE/USE Probe Team

he committee setup by the president to investigate the misuse of Universal Primary and Secondary Education has quizzed the Kabarole district engineer, Stephen Wakatama for presiding over shoddy classroom construction works.

The committee wanted to know whether the engineer has ever advised the district to have an operation and maintenance plan and budget to cater for repairs of school buildings which are in bad condition.

The engineer informed the committee that he had never advised as required and expected and accepted the responsibility.

The committee has discovered that classrooms recently constructed were at the verge of falling down because of shoddy works by constructors aided by the engineers who approve the works.

However, the engineer blamed the mess on inadequate staff in the engineering department to supervise all the construction works within the district.

Fort Portal’s hidden gem

It’s common for travelers to enter a town, sample a few of the happening spots and head out. Little do they notice how much lies beyond the town. The same happens to most people who go through Fort Portal town. A lot has been said and written about this town already. But tucked away 11km from the town whose leaders are dreaming of turning into a city, is a gem – Kluge’s guest farm.  The place is accessible by a first-class murram road.

When Stefan Kluge came to Uganda in 1989 to help with the rehabilitation of the tea industry in the western part of the country, he saw no better place to settle than in the shadows of the mountains of the moon.

In 1992, Mariam and Stefan Kluge, bought the 72-acre piece of land on which the guest farm sits today. It is surrounded by a papyrus swamp and a tropical rain forest, which is home to several families of black and white colubus and grey vervet monkeys.

Over the years, the ever-welcoming couple has developed the land into a farm and planted a big number of trees and flowers of various varieties, making this place so unique and colourful. Today, Kluge’s Guest Farm is a nature lover’s sight to behold.

Indeed, the intriguing combination of swamp, forest and open land makes the place attractive for a wide variety of birds thus making it an ideal place for birding. Species like the crested crane, sunbirds, hornbills, crows and the different coloured Turacos are a common sight here.

Apart from birding, guests can take nature walks in the vast forest, get a ride on a horse and/or decide to camp here. The camp site facilities are equipped with running hot and cold water, showers and flush toilets, so one should worry about a lizard falling on one’s head as nature’s call is being answered.

Campers may carry their own tents or use those at the guest farm. Visitors to this place also enjoy taking a dip in the swimming pool. The kids too have their own pool nearby where they splash under the watchful eye of their parents.

The restaurant, Gavamukulya, Luganda for “strength comes from food” has an a la carte menu with daily specials and if one has a special order, the chef will gladly serve the request.

The cuisine is farm-based with fresh milk from the farm, home-grown vegetables and freshly baked bread. I recommend the whole fish served with chips and a salad. 
Kabarole’s people have even discovered a secret in holding their wedding receptions in its plush gardens. Now you know - there is more to Fort Portal than just the beautiful town centre. 

HIV/Aids High in Kabarole District Secondary Schools.

The Kabarole district secretary for health and education Joshua Kagaba has said that the HIV prevalence among secondary schools in Kabarole district currently stands at 30%.

Kagaba told the New Vision on Thursday morning that a study by the district with the help of other Non-Governmental Organization shows that of every 1000 students at least over 250 are HIV positive.

He however blames the increase to the parent's negligence of their duties in the upbringing of an African child.

"Parents no longer perform their duties as heads of families where these children stay" said Kagaba. "They spend less time with them and have not bothered to advice or monitor the dressing code and movements of their children outside home" he added.

Kagaba stated that the prevalence is much higher among the female students a move he attributed to cross generational sex.

"The graph shows that the HIV is acquired from adult men that are above 40 years of age whereas most of the male students were born with it" Kagaba stated.

The district is now encouraging school heads to lobby for free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling in their schools to identify the affected students.

"We are encouraging formation of HIV clubs in all schools to identify, counsel and guild the students but let it (club) be given a selling name e.g. SAVING LIVES so that it can attract many students and to avoid stigma" Kagaba explained.

Speaking to the New Vision on phone Dr Hauser Mpugga the Kabarole district AIDs focal person said that his office has now embarked on a sensitization exercise that is to roll down to all schools in the district. "We want to avoid new infections by using the ABC control strategy" said Dr Mpugga.

Launch of the E-Society Resource center.

Kabarole District Local Government in partnership with RWECO/RIC-NET  have launched  yet the second E-society center in the Rwenzori region at Kabarole District Local Government headquarters.

The function held at Tooro club yesterday was witnessed by the Local Government technical staff from Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Bundibugyo Districts, political leaders of the Kabarole District led by the Chairperson LC5 who was also the Guest of honour for this function, representatives from the media houses and representation of the Civil society.

A number of activities were carried out including the speeches from different stake holders.

The District information officer Kabarole Ms Lillian Nkwenge introduced the whole concept of the E-society center to the invited guests’ right from inception to the set up. She noted and recognized the efforts of RIC-NET for this noble cause right after the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) late last year (2011). She noted that the E-society was going to be one stop center at the District for information sharing, trainings and other related services.

In his opening remarks the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kabarole Mr. Juma Nyende expressed his gratitude to RIC-NET as development partners thanking them for all the tireless efforts to see that this dream of the E-society has come to pass.

He noted that Kabarole as a district had started an idea to have a Local Area Network at the District which was already being implemented to avoid use of public internet café’s by their staff since they handle sensitive information. He also asked the District staff to fully utilize the center. He  noted that the District website online was to be continuously updated and edited and that therefore all staff should comply whenever approached for information.

The chief Administrative Officer also informed the guests of the commitment they (District) had shown by offering space that houses the E-society center, some staff and other logistics.

In her speech the Program Manager RIC-NET who represented the Executive Director thanked all members for having honored the invitation to come and attend this important function. She explained how RIC-NET a member organization of RWECO came into partnership with Kabarole District Local Government and later the setup of the center. She also said that this ICT hub was among other services going to facilitate information sharing for a poverty free society, become one stop center for research now that Kabarole has two Universities and that it would serve as training center for internship students in some occasions.

 She also said that consultative and round table meetings had been held for Kyenjojo and Bundibugyo Districts for the establishment of the E-society centers and that an official visit had been done for Kamwenge.

She requested for their cooperation and concluded with the signing of the dedication document of the E-society center to the people of Kabarole. It was received and signed by CAO and District chairperson Kabarole on behalf of the people of Kabarole and later read to the guests by the RWECO coordinator Mr.Jimmy Odyek who later handed this document to the District Administration officially. The document also contained a detailed list of all equipment in the E-society resource center.

In his closing speech the District chairperson who was also the Guest of honor thanked RWECO through RIC-NET for all the efforts of having this center a reality at the District. He pledged that the District was going to continue supporting this center to see that it is sustainable and continuously runs and can also be used by the other leaders who may come after them.

He emphasized maximum utilization of the center and was happy by the 296 users who were reported to have used the center form November 2011 to date. He said that since this has officially been published more users of this center will come on board.

He later launched the kabarole website “ I therefore officially launch this website that is hosted at www.kabaroledistrict.go.ug “ he further opened the E-society resource center officially at the end of the function and departure was later after lunch. 

KABAROLE E-SOCIETY CENTER

Listen members of the community, have you heard any information about E-society center Kabarole.

Since November 2011 Kabarole district was blessed with electronic center that is located at local government head quarters at Booma with the availability of 10 computers, printer, photocopier and scanner.

District officials both political and technical have enjoyed internet services, computer training and others to mention few.

The community especially students have enjoyed opportunities like jobs and research through the use of internet

This e-society center is supported by Rwenzori consortium for civic competence ( RWECO), KALI and Rwenzori information centers net work (RIC-NET) which is offering technical support.

The center normally opens at 8:00 am, there are also two full time ICT staff members by the names of Mbusa Elijah and Ategeka Nicholas who normally attends people’s problems especially computer related problems.

RWECO in conjunction with the named partners is planning to open Kabarole E-society center in full swing where it anticipates inviting representatives from Western Region so as to run the center as this practice is likely to be replicated in other districts, this is the second center to be opened after the Kasese district E-society center that was opened in a few months.

KABAROLE E-SOCIETY RESOURCE CENTER NOW A REALITY

In the bid to enhance community participation in decision making and development processes, through facilitating easy and faster information sharing between the community and her leaders by the use of ICT, RIC-NET has set up the second E-society resource center in the Rwenzori region. This comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between Rwenzori Information Centers Network (RIC-NET) and Kabarole District Local Government for the provision of this center last month.

The first batch of the equipment was delivered to the District on 10th November 2011 at 2:00 PM by the RIC-NET ICT team. These included 5 computers, a three in one printer (Printer, photocopier and scanner), furniture (chairs and tables), a D-Link switch for the LAN set up. The equipment was received by the District Information Officer Madam Lilian Nkwenge on behalf of the District.
The second batch of more 5 computers and two fans was delivered on 11th November 2011 early in the morning and the ICT team RIC-NET went ahead to set up the Local Area Network (LAN) for the center that very morning that is continuing with configurations this morning.

She (DIO) thanked RIC-NET for having fulfilled her pledge to the District and said that this would enhance easy information sharing.
The center is not going to be a mere internet cafe’ but will have a number of online resources or platforms attached that can be accessed anywhere by any interested persons. These platforms will include the Kabarole District website that is under design by RIC-NET, the District E-library, the District news portal, CSOs portal and the D-group (discussion group) all to be maintained and updated by RIC-NET.
This center comes after a successful one that was set for Kasese District and having realized it’s benefits to the entire community, RIC-NET set up this also with all hopes that this one will also benefit the entire community of Kabarole District and be a successful project just like the one of Kasese.
The center will also enhance ICT literacy through a number of trainings to both the entire community and the District staff.

LAST KABAROLE COUNCIL TO SIT

The last District Council meeting will today sit at Muchwa Chambers, Fort Portal. The District Council is expected to discuss the 2006-2011 Council achievements and approve the District Development Plan before the Council is disolved for the incoming Council to commence.

The Council meeting will be presided over by the District Speaker, Hon. Patrick Rukuya and will be adressed by the District Chairperson, Hon. Michael Mugisa. The Minister of Local Government who is also Member of Parlaiment for Bunyangabu County, Hon Adolf Mwesige has confirmed to attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, the district is preparing for the hand over of the District Council to the new one and this will be after the Presidents swearing in Function.