The Koboko we want

Lack of clean water in Kaboko Town Council united the women of Koboko to claim their rights during a two day dialogue meeting for all citizens of Koboko.

In the dry season, the level of water in the three major wells supplying Koboko Town reduces drastically, creating an acute shortage of water. The situation makes women shift their beds to the wells as they wait over night to fetch water. In the dry seasons a jerrycan of clean water may cost up to 1,500 Uganda shilling in Koboko town.

The situation is unbearable and during a two day pubic dialogue meeting “The Koboko We Want” held at St. Charles Lwanga College in December Last year, Koboko women saw their chance. Mostly women fo Koboko United Women’s Association (KUWA) marched with placards containing messages about the water situation in Koboko during the meeting. The meeting was attended by 600 people including the two members of parliament of Koboko.

Water is life

Some of the messages read; “Water is live, clean water is better life”; “Women, wake up, you are always the victims”; not a jet, but clean wate is all we want”. We are tired of being deceived over water”.

The women called upon their leaders to covey their disappointment to government of Uganda for the failed promises made by the President in 2002 to provide Koboko Town with piped water. Koboko’s women MP promised to talk with the Minister of Water Jennifer Namuyangu. A meeting between the Koboko women and the Minister of Water was held in February.

Latest offspring

The dialogue day “The Koboko we want” is the latest offspring of KOCISONETs efforts to unite civil society and local government in a collective struggle for a better Koboko.

Previously KOCISONET has conducted public dialogues for half a day every quarter. Each time a particular topic was selected on an issue affecting the development of the district, and about 80 stakeholders would brainstorm and suggest a way forward on the issue. In these debates, people of all walks of life as well as civil servants have learnt to talk freely, making all kinds of criticisms without fear of any reprimand from their superiors. Especially those otherwise left out in the decision making processes, who sometimes are afraid of visiting local government offices (women and youth with low levels of education) have found this as an opportunity to raise their concerns to the leaders.

Diaspora included in Koboko development

Due to public demand, KOCISONET together with the district decided to keep up three quarterly dialogue meetings a year, but also hold bigger annual dialogue days once a year. These will involve all the local government officials, the people of Koboko in Arua, Kampala and in the Diaspora, development partners, investors and others in an attempt to tap new ideas for the development of Koboko district.

Among the guest speakers at the first meeting in December were Mr. Male Charles, Senior Analyst, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Ottawa, Canada, Dr. Moro Emanuel, a senior consultant and associate professor of sugery in Gulu University and Dr. Mawa Micheal, Lecturer at Nkumba University.

All participants, local government officials, CSO-members and guest from outside unanimously agreed that the events should become an annual event spear headed by Koboko local government.