KASESE CSO PORTAL TRAINING By Erastus Ang'ienda

The civil society organizations in western Uganda and in particular those operating in Kasese district have started using technology to achieve change and development in the area. RICNET with funding from IICD organized a workshop to familiarize the civil societies in Kasese district with the new portal that was tailored for their use. The portal is a version of the social site facebook only that this one zeroes down to Kasese district.

Gael Harnandez of IICD how was the lead trainer at the workshop applied the practicality of the portal by going through every step in detail. Just like any other social site, one can receive messages, send messages communicate with other users and chat instantly. the portal also comes with an added component, as a user you have your own page where you can publish your articles, pictures and videos for the others to see.





John M. Silco, the program manager at RICNET stressed on the point that the portal was for the people of Kasese and that it is them to maximize its use if they want to realize change in the region.He warned users of the platform against using the portal to display pictures that are unnecessary and do not contribute to the development of the area. he also stressed the point that the E- society center offers free services and on issues of extending the working hours of the center, he expressed the possibility but said a few more consultations had to be made.














By the end of the workshop, all 37 participants were registered as members of the portal and workable strategies were put in place to ensure the portal becomes success.

RICNET AND SATNET LAUNCHES PLANT CLINICS IN THE RWENZORI REGION

For a very long time, farmers in the Rwenzori region have been affected by plant pests and diseases, coupled with their limited know how on how to identify the diseases and get medication for the plants, a greater threat is posed to food security in the region and Uganda as a whole since the Rwenzori region is the basket of Cassava, beans and an assortment of fruits in Uganda. To curb the plant pests and diseases, RICNET and SATNET, two non governmental organisations operating in the Rwenzori region with support from Global plant clinic have launched a series of plant clinics in the two districts bordering the Congo- Kasese and Bundibugyo.
The week long exercise saw five plant clinics launched two in Bundibugyo and three in Kasese. The two districts were chosen because they are the closest to the DRC where most plant diseases in the western region of Uganda come from.
The launch saw all five plan clinics furnished with basic equipment that would enable the smooth operation of the services. Each clinic received a Table, five chairs, one lab coat for the plant doctor to use while diagnosing the plants, hand lenses, a banner with the name of the clinic and the day I which it operates. The plant nurses were also provided with branded T-shirts so that the community would easily identify them. Each clinic also received a digital camera and resource material that the doctor and farmers would use for reference.

At the launch of the clinic in Kisinga Sub County, the county chief gave the program a good reception and pledged his support and that of the government to ensure the success of the project. He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the RICNET and SATNET for implementing the plant clinic program in his county. On his part, the Agricultural officer of Kisinga sounded a stern warning to the plant doctor of the area, he advised him to take good care of the equipment provided and never use it for personal purposes.
Mr. Erastus Ang’ienda the RICNET representative at the function advised the farmers to maximize the use of the plant clinics and better their food production, a sentiment which was also shared by Mr. Thaddeo Kahigwa, the SATNET representative who thanked the government for their support and pledged more support to the clinics in the future, he also asked the plant doctors to send pictures of plants with diseases they cant identify in the field for quick identification so that the remaining plants in the field can be saved.

With the kind of reception and support the plant clinic concept received during the launching ceremonies in the 5 centers, the fight against plant diseases has moved a notch higher and everyone’s prayer now is that at the end of it all, our plants are disease free because HEALTHY PLANTS… HEALTHY PEOPLE.

Electronic Library Training Impresses Kasese District Officials

The E-Society completed a three days training that was attended by the members from Kasese District Local Government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kasese district. The Training registered a daily attendance of 35 people per day.

The main objective of the training was to enhance knowledge on how to use the newly developed Kasese District Electronic library that will boost Information sharing between the Local Government, CSOs and the Citizens in Kasese District and world wide.

The training was facilitated by Software developers from SOLTEC, the Company that was contracted to develop the system and with financial funds from IICD.

The training was regarded successful because all the objectives we accomplished.


Reported by

Bwambale Edwin
ICT Technical Advisor, E-Society Kasese

THE AWESOME IPHONE-4G

THE new iPhone-4G is the latest phone on the Ugandan market. It is easily distinguishable from others and exactly the type of phone for men and women with swag. With this phone, you can see tell the location of the person you are communicating with.

This piece has unbelievably sharp and crisp texts and graphics. It even helps you record and edit stunning videos in High Definition (HD), even in low light settings.

This is enabled by its advanced backside illumination sensor and in-built LED light. Its 5-megapixel camera with in-built LED flash will enable you take beautiful and detailed pictures.

The new front-facing camera makes it easy to take self-portraits. It has an in-built noise suppression system which makes phone calls easy to hear even in a noisy environment.

It has an amazing iPod, the kind that lets you listen to music, watch videos and browse everything with just the touch of your finger.
These phones cost between sh2m and sh2.4m

Compiled By;
Mugasa Evelyn

Appreciation

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 7:02 AM
From:"CHARLES THEMBO"

To:
ricnet@ricnet.info
Cc:
rwericnet@yahoo.com
The Director,
Ricnet,

Thank you so much for Supporting the information centre at Kasese District Head Quarters.
Now i am able to post pictures and text to our blog.
if you get some time, Visit our blog and advise where possible.
http://rwenzoriruralhealthservices.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much again for supporting the Facility at Rukoki Head offices.

Best Regards,

Kiima T.Charles
Team Leader- RRHS.

Pamoja media from Kenya writes about RIC-NET

Pamoja media from Kenya writes about RIC-NET thus, "RIC-NET has a very
powerful yet local method of sourcing and distributing information.
The organization has formed a collection of small information centers
into one powerful network within Western Uganda."

http://pamojamedia.com/2010/07/knowledge-sharing-in-rural-africa

COMPETTITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC) MATERIALS

1.0 Introduction
E-Society is a project being implemented in Kasese District under Rwenzori Information Centres Network (RIC-NET), to enhance Information sharing between the Local Government leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Citizens through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools.
IEC is a short form of Information, Education and Communication. It refers to any item, object or tool that can be used in communication to pass information from one individual or party to another.
The purpose of using IEC materials is to continue informing about the issue even in the absence of the IEC material developer.
Examples of IEC Materials; Posters, Newsletters, Flyers, Websites, Blogs, Videos, Digital stories, Radio talk shows, Brochures, Reports, E-mails, etc.
2.0 The Competition
The E-Society is running a competition on the development of IEC materials. In this programme, individuals, CSOs, Social groups, Schools and Institutions interested in participating in the competition are expected to develop any of these IEC materials; posters, flyers, poem, T-Shirt, theme song and True Inspirational Stories . All these can be developed under any of the following themes;
Health:
1. Sanitary conditions for young girls in schools.
2. Messages on T.B prevention.
3. The causes of HIV spreading among young school girls.
Education:
1. Growth and maturation for school children (sex education/sexuality).
2. Roles of parents on students/pupils attending school.
Water:
1. Water scarcity and controlled use.
2. Water Harvesting and Prevention
3.0 Main Objective of the Programme
To enable the community members share skills and Information on Health, Education and Water through the use of IEC materials.
4.0 Why join this completion?
1. All Participants will be awarded Certificates of participation.
2. Winners will be awarded lucrative prizes
3. Winners will get an opportunity to be trained by a Professional.
4. All items of the winners will be improved and published to work in the community. These items shall hold the winner developer’s name.
5.0 Who can participate in the Competition?
Individuals, social clubs/groups, Civil Society Organization, Primary pupils, Secondary Schools and Institutional students e.g. from Colleges.
6.0 Period of the Competition
Competition is open from 27th S September - 15th October 2010
6.0 How to participate in the competition
During the period specified above, any interested individual or party can develop an IEC material and then deliver it to any of the places mentioned below and wait for competition results. All participants shall be contacted when results of the competition are released.
IEC Materials Collection Centres:
1. Bwera Information Centre (BIC) –Bwera.
2. Busongora Rural Information Centre (BRIC) at ORDSEF – Basecamp, Kasese.
3. ICT E-Society Centre - The Education Department House, Kasese District Local Government headquarters in Rukoki, Kasese.
4. Goodhope Foundation – Kiburara
NB: If you belong to a School, CSO or Institution, you can deliver your material to the person in charge there or still deliver it to any of above mentioned Centres of collection.
For more Information call any of these lines; 0775300414, 0772607149, 0392888974, 0701071804, 0782044384 come to the ICT E-Society Centre in Rukoki at the District Head quarters.


The Programme is sponsored by RIC-NET and IICD


Compiled and reported by,

Bwambale Edwin
ICT Officer RIC-NET and ICT Technical Advisor, E-Society

PLANT CLINICS TO BE INITIATED IN WESTERN UGANDA

By: Erastus Ang’ienda – Fort portal

Having realized the problem of plant diseases in the Rwenzori region.
RICNET, a Non governmental organization based in Fort portal in
collaboration with SATNET, with the support of the Global plant clinic
has embarked on a strategy of equipping farmers with skills of carrying
out diagnosis of affected plants and giving them the necessary
information on how to control plant diseases. This strategy will use
information centers and farmer filed schools established by STANET at
the County, sub- County and parish levels to share farmer based
information. The plant clinics will be located in strategic places
near markets to allow farmers bring in samples of affected plants and
receive appropriate advices.

While addressing a one day workshop for plant nurses from Bundibugyo
and Kasese districts, Timothy Balikenga begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting the plant clinic project
officer at RICNET said the plant clinics will enable the farmers find
lasting solutions to plant diseases which in turn will enable them
grow healthy and nutritious food crops. He asked the plant nurses to
grasp the concept of the plant clinics and use this information to
help rural farmers take care of their crops.

The two districts were chosen as pilot districts because they border
the DRC where most of the plant pest and diseases in Uganda are
believed to come from. To enhance information sharing with the rest of
the districts, the plant clinics will be equipped with computers with
internet and digital cameras for taking pictures of affected plants.