August 2008 - KICK activities on halt

Implementation of the first year operational plan has beebn completed under core funding partnership with the Royal Netherlands Embassy which wrote to appreciate KICK reporting and accountability as "worth emulating". However, we are informed that structural adjustments in the RNE will disabe them continuing to support the KICK strategic plan. as a result, all our activities will remain on halt until another funding support partnership is established. Rwakatungu Caleb (Head of Secretariat) and Girei Emanuela (VSO advisor) are making frontic efforts to establish new relationships and some good prospects have already been identified. We keep our fingers crossed.

Intensive activities of March to July 2008

In accordance with the first year operational plan, KICK undertook activities which were partly a result of the overall strategic plan and partly a result of follow up of issues arising from the baseline survey that had been conducted, concluded and evaluated in February 2008 by a large cross-section of stakeholders. The intensive activities completed are as follows:

March 08 The SIWI project takes off

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is funding a project inUganda to monitor corruption in the water sector through the Anti-corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU). The South Western Uganda-based anti-corruption coalition known as Kick Corruption out of Kigezi (KICK) was selected to participate in the initial implementation of this project and it sent its Project Coordinator Akampurira Sarah for a training of trainers course that would enable her to train KICK-based monitors.

The training of monitors took place between 26th and 28th February 2008 at Home Again Hotel in Kabale under the team leadership of Akampurira Sarah the KICK Coordinator who deployed the skills as acquired through the Training of Trainers course she undertook as carried out by ACCU.

Before the trainees focused on the developed and tested water sector monitoring tools, they were first give general knowledge on community participation in the planning and budgetary process by the responsible local government official and they were also given a general over-view of the role of civil society in community participation to fight corruption by Rwakatungu Caleb the Head of Secretariat for KICK.

After being shown how to use the monitoring tool, they took time off to try the tool practically in the field on the different types of water services – gravity schemes, bore holes and protected springs.

They are now set to carry out the monitoring activity in their respective sub-counties.

February 08 Dissemination of the baseline survey findings on corruption in the Kigezi region

On Friday 28/02/08 KICK invited its major stakeholders to discuss the findings of its baseline survey and listen to their views and advice. The assembly, held in Kabale, was extremely well attended and saw the participation of local government officials (including RDCs, CAOs and district officers as well as elected representatives from both districts and Kabale municipality) and several representatives of civil society. The assembly constituted a platform for an extremely lively and articulate debate on corruption in the Kigezi region; it was a great opportunity for civil society and public officials to share their views and establish the basis for a new working partnership between local government and civil society in fighting corruption. KICK values highly the inputs received at the assembly and those that will come from other stakeholders, and will take them on board in the immediate future.

February 08 Willoughby Liz hands over to Girei Emanuela as VSO volunteer advisor to KICK

The 28th day of February 2008 was a memorable day to KICK when a special session of the Executive Committee witnessed the handing over of voluntary technical advisor Willoughby Liz the English lady who had served since September 2006 to Girei Emanuela an Italian lady who had completed one month of a phasing-in and takeover process.

In the Executive Committee meeting, Liz was praised for her extra-ordinary efforts that visibly contribured to KICK outstanding achievements and impact in a short period of time. Of the many varied successes, the major highlights were singled out to be resource mobilization and fundraising at the time of near-desperate point, development of clear, sustainable accurate and transparent financial systems and imparting planning skills on implementation staff.

The evening was crowned with a grand dinner honored by invited guests at which Liz was formally bid farewill and Emanuela formally welcomed.

The freshly elected Chairman of KICK Dr Anguyo Geoffrey expressed unequivocal gratitude for the accomplishments Liz had registered and wished Emanuela a happy and fruitful stay with KICK. He also took time off to recall the services of a fellow volunteer Arjan de Bont a Dutch young man who assisted Kick to map up its strategic plan and to streamline its organization development process which is the foundation on which the present successes are based

In a typical African cultural style, the outgoing and incoming volunteers were showered with symbolic presents which were received with gratitude.

January 08 KICK GETS NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

On 30th January 2008, KICK held an annual general assembly and updated all the member districts delegates on the implementation process and its progress. In accordance with the programme, the assembly elected a new Executive Committee constituted of two representatives of each district as follows: a) In compliance with the constitutional provision, all chairpersons of the respective district civil society networks automatically became members of the executive committee. b) Since by coincidence all district chairpersons happen to be men and the constitution provides for the committee composition of at least one third to be women, it was agreed that the second representatives from member districts be women as suggested by their districts and approved by the AGM. When the Executive Committee was fully constituted, the AGM proceeded to designate members with specific responsibilities. Dr Anuyo Geoffrey who is Chairman Kabale Civil Society was designated KICK Chairman, Mrs Kanyamukwara Edvina who is a representative for Kanungu district was designated KICK Vice Chairperson, Mr Bampoyiki James who is Chairman Kisoro NGO/CBO Forum was designated KICK Treasurer, Mr Rwakatungu Caleb who is KICK Head of Secretariat was designated the automatic KICK Secretary by a constitutional amendment, Ms Batabara Betty who is representative for Kabale district was designated the woman representative in charge of the Womens’ Desk and the remaining were designated committee members as follows: Mrs Kashemererwa Jovairo the representative for Rukungiri district, Mr Mutabanura Davis the Chairman Rukungiri Civil Society Forum, Can. Ruyoka Charles the Chairman Kanungu NGO/CBO Forum and Mrs Rwerekane Eunice the representative for Kisoro district. The elected committee promised the electorate full dedication and optimum fulfillment of their obligations,

Kick Anti-corruption day was a resounding success

This year (2007) KICK anti-corruption week of December 3rd to 9th culminated in the anti-corruption day which was marked at a glamorous function that took place at Kabale Stadium and was attended by a cross-section of civil society and stakeholder representatives from all member districts namely Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri and the hosts Kabale.

Using financial support sourced by the Anti-corruption Coalition Uganda from DFID through the DANIDA managed basket fund, the KICK anti-corruption week and ultimately the anti-corruption day activities were characterised by a community empowerment approach using drama as a tool of communication to emphasise this years theme that focused on corruption in the distribution of essential drugs in community-based health centres.

Four drama groups representiing each member of the newly formed Kigezi Anti-corruption Theatre Movement (KATM) performed drama, dance and music at the function, emphatically reminding everyone of the shortage of drugs and inefficiencies in service delivery attributed to corruption at health centres.

The Chief Guest at the function Mr Benson Ekwe Ocan, who represented the ACCU Board of Directors, was flanked by Jasper Tumuhimbise the ACCU Coordinator and Africano Kasingye the ACCU programme officer for capacity building.

The function was also graced by an impressive array of high ranking Kabale district political leaders led by the LCV Vice Chairman Mr Silver Baguma and including the Speaker of the District Council Rec Can Jack Katarishangwa, the Secretary for Health Mrs Tibenda Adrine and District Councillors Beatrice Twayaga, Roy Zikampereza, Kweyamba William.

The over 1000 strong audience to the function would have been bigger and more cheerful if it had not been interrupted by half a day of heavy rain!

Intensive FM radio publicity, the weeks activities and the anti-corruption day function all added up to make civil society a more effective player in the anti-corruption struggle and its ultimate goal of poverty eradication at community level.

3-8 December 2007 Anti-corruption Week

HEALTH - Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Distribution of Medicines

No drugs available? Forced to pay for "free" medicines? Treated badly by medical staff? Join in our activities:-

Drama, discussion at health centres throughout Kigezi.

Radio programmes and phone in's on Voice of Kigezi

Grand Parade, Kabale Stadium 8th December - be there!

September 07 - Kigezi Anti-corruption Theatre Movement is born

The training of trainers workshop which took place at Kirigime Guest House in Kabale Municipality organised by Kick Corruption Out of Kigezi (KICK) was technically facilitated by International Anti-corruption Theatre Movement (IATM) who imparted skills on selected dramatists from the 4 KICK districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu and Rukungiri on anti-corruption themes using the forum theatre methodology.

Before closure, the participants saw need for sustainability, continuity and impact using the newly acquired skills. This necessitated structural formation in order to organise human and material resources hence their own initiative of undertaking the democratic practice of forming the KIGEZI ANTI-CORRUPTION THEATRE MOVEMENT, elected an executive committee representative of all member organisations.

The KICK Secretariat congratulates the following who were elected:

• Chairman - Turyareeba Emmanuel alias Rugo from Rukungiri district, Phone 0772661790
• Vice Chairman - Sebuhinja Julius from Kisoro district, Phone 0712013516
• Secretary - Monday Angello from Kanungu district, Phone 0774674187
• Treasurer - Barusya Julius from Kabale district, Phone 0772339890

The other members of the executive and representatives of the sub-counties elected vowed to support the implementation process at grassroot level.

After the training process, skills acquired were put to practice under an urban set-up at Bugongi market and under a rural set-up at Kyobugombe trading centre in Kaharo sub-county.

The workshop closing was graced with a cerificate award ceremony by Musimenta Obadiah the Kabale district Internal Security Officer who emphasised government appreciation for the civil society role in prevention and control of insecurity caused by corruption in society.

September 07 - Caleb joins ACCU Board

It is public knowledge that ACCU (Anti-corruption Coalition of Uganda) have had internal problems. In a spirit of transparency ACCU announced to the press that their co-ordinator had been dismissed and in a recent Emergency General Meeting the entire Executive Committee stood down. In the ensuing election Caleb Rwakatungu (KICK Head of Secretariat) was elected as Vice Chairperson. While it is regrettable that the problems occurred ACCU have set an example to us all on how to handle matters openly and transparently. KICK are proud to be a member of ACCU and to help shape its future.

Anti-corruption week 2007

The theme for this year's Anti-corruption week is HEALTH with particular emphasis on access to treatment and drugs and civic involvement in health centre management. Activities planned include visits by the ACCU bus to health centres in Kampala and around the country, visits by local anti-corruption coalitions to local health centres, public sensitisation on rights of access to treatment and medicine and advocacy to promote local involvement in managing health centres right down to community level. If YOU have a health issue to raise contact your local anti-corruption coalition, NGO/CBO Forum, KICK or ACCU.

August 2007 - Programmes to 'Kick Corruption out of Kigezi' take off

All the participatory planning previously done by KICK has paid off. KICK has rapidly started to implement these plans:-

July 2007 - KICK receives first year funding

KICK are very pleased and proud to announce their new partnership with the Royal Nederlands Embassy. We have held close discussions over the past three months resulting in full funding for KICK's first year of operation. We are now very busy setting up our office and putting into action our operational plan. Progress reports will be published here quarterly.

June 6th 2007 - Anti-corruption theme 2007 takes off in style in Kabale district

Just a few days after the Anti-corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) General Assembly of 23rd May 2007 where it was confirmed that the 2007 anti-corruption theme would involve fighting corruption in the distribution and usage of drugs at health centres in Uganda, Kabale district Member of Parliament for Rubanda West Constituency Mr Banyenzaki Henry and the Kabale district Chairman Mr Adson Kakuru flagged off the theme in style on the popular FM radio Voice of Kigezi anti-corruption Sunday programme called "Tigaba goomwe" literally meaning no one has a monopoly to knowledge.

The parliamentarian openly and furiously blasted the Kabale local govenment administration for embezling public health funds with special reference to two specific health centres of Kiyebe and Karubanda. He then made specific reference to corruption in the distribution and use of drugs in the rural based health centres. The Chairman's phone in response was indicative of a deepe political wrangle and more likely corruption scandle in the rural health service delivery structure that the public was hitherto aware of.

To crown it all, the parliamentarian promised that in his capacity as a member of the Parliamentary committee on social services, he had access to all records giving details on all funds and drugs allocated to each health centre and that he was leaving behind a copy of such records for public access.

As if that was not enough, on the night of Tuesday 5th June 2007 the big wigs from Kabale district local government converged on the same radio for an hour's rebuke targeting the same parliamentarian for allegedly swindling funds destined for 4 health centres in his constituency. They again accused him of accessing funds directly from the central government on behalf of the health sector and later directing them to his personal use.

Since it is impossible at the moment to determine who is fooling who, let the KICK anti-corruption theme folow-up for the year 2007 begin with the information and data availed in the saga.

25th April 2007 - KICK trained in public expenditure monitoring

The Head of Secretariat, Mr Rwakatungu Caleb was one of the selected trainees who attended a World Bank funded public expenditure monitoring course conducted by Community Development Resource Network (CDRN) that took place at the Rider Hotel, Seeta between 16th to 20th April 2007. It was attended by 32 participant representatives of civil society organizations from all parts of Uganda whose strategic objectives include budget monitoring. The course was a first step towards building the capacity of civil society in developing and using a common tool and conducting research to provide scientifically sound data analyses that can be aggregated to give a national picture regarding public expenditure and its impact on service delivery to the grass root communities. At the end of the training, one of the three distinction awards was given to the KICK representative for being the bet participant contributors during the training period.

5th April 2007 - Radio Kigezi

Caleb was a invited as a guest on Kigezi radio to talk about the rights and responsibilities of civil society to monitor public spending. Warren joined me to listen and translate...

Caleb talked about:-

• DUTY on civil society to monitor public spending incorporated in the Constitution of Uganda
• RESPONSIBILITY to ensure money is properly spent on providing basic services, for example, health, education, roads, water and sanitation, to alleviate poverty and contribute to the goals set in PEAP (Poverty Eradication Action Plan) and the Millenium Goals
• MANDATED by constitution and legislation including Access to Information Act, Local Government Act, Leadership Code.

He stressed how important it is for civil society to play a part in monitoring spending, as he said, "If you do not struggle to have a seat at the table, you may end up on the menu!"

Caleb's warm and friendly style helped put the message across clearly to listeners who responded by phoning in with very positive comments, including "Please can you come on the radio every week!"

Thank you Caleb and Radio Kigezi for this great opportunity to talk about how we all can work together to fight corruption in Kigezi.

Liz (VSO volunteer)

14-16th February 2007 - Workshop, Exhibition and Website Launch

KICK were delighted to have the opportunity to make a powerpoint presentation to this workshop showcasing our work in Kigezi. The presentation culminated in the launch of the KICK website by Charles Mubbale, Executive Director of Transparency International (Uganda). A concept paper and leaflet were also made available.

The presentation and web site were very well received and created a great deal of interest. Over the course of the exhibition many potential partners from the donor community visited our display, experimented with the web site and learnt more about KICK's activities. Discussions are continuing with several donors with a view to creating long term partnerships.

This workshop was convened by DANIDA and ACCU and attended by anti-corruption networks, the donor community and government agencies. The workshop was held at the Hotel Africana and followed by a public exhibition in Garden City Exhibition Hall.

Our thanks go to our VSO volunteer and her family who have donated not just the web site but the resources and technical skills to enable KICK staff to maintain and update the site ourselves. If you have a comment to make about this website or about any aspect of Kick's work please e-mail us on kigezianticorruption@yahoo.com

Thanks too, to DANIDA and ACCU for arranging the event so well and giving KICK the chance we needed to introduce ourselves to the anti-corruption activists and supporters in Uganda.

22nd Jan 2007 - KICK attends ACCU workshop

On 22nd January 2007, ACCU conducted a stakeholders' workshop to evaluate the planning, implementation and outcomes of the anti-corruption week activities that took place at the end of October and beginning November 2006. At this workshop, KICK was represented by Rwakatungu Caleb the Head of Secretariat and Liz Willoughby the implementation advisor from VSO. Other regional coalitions in attendance were RAC and TAC. After evaluating the pros and cons of the implementation process a way forward was arrived at. It included continuation with the 2006 theme of "Tackling corruption in UPE", further discussion on whether to tackle the thematic sector of Health or Judiciary and early planning / resource mobilisation for continuous implementation throughout the year of 2007. The workshop was chaired by the ACCU Board Chairman, Mr Deo Nkuzingoma, conducted by the ACCU Coordinator Mr Geoffrey Rwakabale and facilitated by the ACCU Networking and Advocacy Officer Mr Jasper Mpirirwe. ACCU promised to keep the stakeholders posted on any future developments.

Jan 07 - KICK develops a website

We find it very necessary for anti-corruption stakeholders in Uganda and indeed the whole world to know about and interface with KICK and its enormous potential for poverty eradication at grassroot level through combating corruption in service delivery. We all along knew that a website was the modern tool for our felt need. Our VSO volunteer Liz Willoughby and her family kindly donated this very website that has put you in touch with KICK.

If you have a comment to make about this website or about any aspect of Kick's work please e-mail us on kigezianticorruption@yahoo.com

Oct-Nov 06 - Anti-corruption week 2006

Under the auspices of Anti-corruption Coalition Uganda, KICK was funded to undertake activities to mark the anti-corruption week of 2006 under the years theme of focussing on Universal Primary Education. In the 4 KICK districts that cover S. W. Uganda, primary school visits were conducted, parents and teachers meetings held, pupils' views on corruption picked and cases of corruption in construction, procurement and management sited.

The anti-corrution week activities climaxed into the anti-corruption day on 4th Nov. 2006 which was marked in Kisoro town by a procession and dialogue between national and local leaders and civil society in general.

ACCU has since declared KICK implementation of the week/day activities the best organised and most effective for 2006. Plans are already undr way to seek funding for continuity of the civil society anti-corruption activities focused on the primary education institutions. We would not like to lose the momentum and potential positive effects initiated during the anti-corruption week.

Oct 05-Jun 06 - KICK strengthened

In the last half of 2005, the partnership of VSO and civil society in S.W Uganda culminated into the arrival of a young and energetic Dutch employee of ACCENTURE by the names Arjan de Bont who volunteered to provide technical support in planning and strengthening the civil society anti-corruption structure that had been formed earlier. By the time he left in July 2006, KICK as an anti-corruption coalition of 4 district networks had an approved revised constitution, a strategic plan, a one-year operational plan as well as initiated partnerships. His stay and operations were supported by DANIDA.

He handed over the implementation advisory task to another VSO volunteer, an English lady by the name Liz Willoughby who settled down for duty at the Kabale Secretariat starting in September 2006.