When we visited Mary and Vincent in Uganda in 2010 there were 84 observers in Acowa Township in Amuria District. Today, the number has increased to 120. But it is not just in Acowa that the number has increased.
In the entire project that coves six townships in the Teso Region in north-eastern Uganda, there are now more than 700 local village observers who are all elected in their villages.
“Because of our monitoring people now get their services and the inhabitants here are well informed about what is going on”, says Vincent.
“It (the monitoring) has got even the leaders to open up and not hide problems. It has led to transparency, openness, honesty and responsibility, also when we are given help, like for example, through NAADS (government agricultural support program),” Vincent explains.
Monitoring work influences election positively
During the most recent presidential election in Uganda and other local elections in February and March 2011, the observers were not active, as their work could otherwise be misunderstood by politicians and government authorities because the monitoring reports are often critical.
“We cannot contact a public servant to get information when he is standing for election; and we cannot carry out control in a village if the candidate comes from that area, because people would just think that we support one side or the other. Good governance is related to transparency”, Vincent says.
But the monitoring work has still had a preventive effect on the election. “Those who used to cheat didn’t turn up at this election; now they know that there is someone who is keeping an eye on the public servants”, Vincent explains.
Training creates less corruption over time
The monitoring work and training of observers has, furthermore, importance when some of the observers are later elected to the town council or employed in the public services.
“When the person takes office, he/she will be aware of what good governance is. And that person will know how to manage corruption and will not use corruption. Yes, people will really get service. There will be a noticeable change”, says Vincent.
Mary, who like Vincent is an observer, stood for election to the town council and won.
“This project has given me the strength to talk to people and stand up in a meeting; if I hadn’t become an observer, I don’t think I could have won this election”, says Mary and smiles.
Still challenges in Acowa
The monitoring work has done a lot of good for the local society, but there are still challenges in Acowa.
“The health clinics still have problems. There is not enough medicine, and right now there isn’t any medicine. After an election you don’t know what can happen. Most of the health centres have no medicine”, explains Vincent.
“That is something the observers will follow up. But it is difficult, because it isn’t always the fault of the local government, it is a national problem. When we contact the district authorities, they say it is at the national level there is a problem, at the Uganda National Drug Authority”, says Vincent.
More observers means more training
About the project
In rural areas of Uganda not everyone knows who is responsible for ensuring that public services work properly, and that their local school or health clinic is remembered in the government’s budgets. Together with the Danish Embassy in Uganda, DanChurchAid’s partner, Church of Uganda, TEDDO and Uganda Debt Network started a three year project in 2008. The purpose is to strengthen the local government structures and create a more responsible and transparent local government through a local control system.
According to Vincent there is also another challenge. The increased number of observers necessitates more training.
“One of the challenges is that some observers are incompetent; they thought that such an observer job would give them some money, but this is volunteer work”, explains Vincent and continues; “You have to know how to approach a person from whom you want information. I think there is a need for new training of the observers and strict monitoring requires committed people, not just some who want status from being able to say that they are observers”, says Vincent.
A brighter future
“The future looks brighter, even though some observers will give up, and some don’t take it seriously. There are many who are committed and they will continue with the little training they have; through monitoring work we have become very aware”, concludes Vincent.
Freely edited by Signe Reeholm on the basis of a text by Mai Gad, sociology student and intern at DanChurchAid.