Bugisu Region calls for Restoration of Term Limits for all Elective Positions for better Governance.
From 28th -30th July 2015, The Uganda National NGO Forum working together with Pallisa Civil Society Network-PACONET and Poverty Alleviation and Community Development Foundation-PACODEF conducted the Citizen Manifesto Consultations in Bugisu Region. Three meetings were held in Nakaloke Town Council (0n 28th July at the Town Council Offices), Namanyonyi Sub county (on 29th July at the Sub county Hall) and Bumasike Sub county (on 30th July at the sub county Hall) attended by over 180 citizens who included Religious leaders, Cultural Leaders, youths, farmers, women leaders, Political leaders, civil servants, business community as well as media. The expiry of the 2011-2016 Citizens Manifesto dictates that the process of generating the 2016-2021 Citizens Manifesto kicks off, however, for this to happen, there needs to be a comprehensive review of the Citizen Manifesto to identify the key achievements as well as point out the missed opportunities.
The consultations that were moderated by the Bugisu Region Citizens Manifesto Ambassador Canon Andrew Nyote, supported by the PACONET and PACODEF Staff, were done through community dialogue meetings which allowed participants to freely engage in the deliberations and passionately discuss for the good of their region.
In addition to the 2011-2016 Citizens Manifesto, citizens were able to make new demands for 2016-2021 that included; revamping the Bugisu Cooperative Union, restoration of term limits for all elective positions, strengthening vocational education, national roll-out of the elderly Grant (SAGE), Granting Mbale city Status, tackling the unemployment problem. The 2011-2016 Citizen Manifesto issues included; poor roads, poor health services, poor quality education, access to safe water, rural electrification, wide spread corruption, disasters/landslides.
The 2016-2021 Citizens Manifesto will by the end of this August 2015 be generated from the 14 regions of Uganda that negotiated independence and these include; Buganda, Bunyoro, Ankole, Sebei, Karamoja, Tooro, Bugisu, Busoga, Kigezi, Bukedi, Teso, Acholi, Lango, and West Nile.
Story by Robert Ninyesigar
