BUNDIBUGYO E-SOCIETY RESOURCE CENTRE TO RESUME WORK

RIC-NET staff (Kyomuhendo Joselyne, Muhindo Geoffrey and Biira Milly) on 19^th June, 2013 traveled to Bundibugyo district to monitor the running of the E-society Centre and to also share with the local government leaders its sustainability.

This follows a standstill that was caused on the full operation of Centre by the heavy rains that blew the Roof top of the building housing the E-society Centre on 8^th March 2013. E-society equipment; computers, desks and chairs were relocated and kept in a smaller room while the affected building was being repaired. All the while however the Officer in-charge was finding it difficult to conduct his daily schedules like before.

During the monitoring visit, RIC-NET staff met and discussed with the Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Kalisa Hebert, the Vice Chair Person LCV Mr. Mbalibulha Godfrey about the re-opening of the affected building and the operations of the e-society centre. The visiting team learnt that the building had been repaired and the equipment would be moved into it by end of month to allow for the activities of the Centre to resume.

  RIC-NET staff with Mr. Mbalibulha in the repaired E-society centre.

Discussing the Centre’s sustainability the meeting agreed that sourcing  for strong partner organizations like ESCO, OLAM, World Vision, Save the Children to use and support the  Centre  stand and keep in business even RIC-NET’s  direct financial and technical support ends. Kasese E-society centre was given as an example of where this strategy has worked. The Program manager noted that the District was made to appreciate the need and relevance of the Centre and lobbied Central Government to allow to them recruited a permanent ICT officer to run the Centre. Apparently Public Service already advertised the position and soon an IT Officer will be recruited. Commenting on the contribution of the Centre the Vice Chairperson Hon Mbalibulha Godfrey Revealed that the E-society center is playing a big role in  making fast and reliable information sharing with the community through internet and the secretarial services, and enhancing staff capacities through the ICT trainings offered at the Centre.

The meeting was a success and the whole trip interesting. The team was pleased by the new good road that has made transport a lot easier and Bundibugyo easily accessible, in addition to this are the beautiful newly constructed police staff houses; thanks to Government for the great work done for Bundibugyo district.

Fort Portal Bundibugyo road under construction

Conclusively Bundibugyo district is growing at a very high speed due to improved technology, infrastructure and skilled personnel employed at the district. I believe that in the next years to come the whole community will have been transformed and developed than was in the previous years.