Judith Nakayima, Assistant Program Officer for Voice and Participation at Twaweza East Africa, has urged collaboration between community members and authorities to drive sustainable change in communities.
She made this appeal during the closing ceremony of a three-day refresher training workshop held at Agaba Center in Kabale Municipality.
The workshop was organized by Literacy Action and Development Agency (LADA), which is implementing a program in Rubanda District aimed at empowering vulnerable households and communities through advocacy, economic empowerment, health, education, and environmental initiatives.
Speaking to journalists, Mrs. Nakayima noted that some community members struggle to access responsible offices to address their concerns.
She also observed that lack of facilitation for attendance often hinders community members’ participation in village meetings, making it difficult for local councils to convene these gatherings. Mrs. Nakayima emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation between the community and authorities for effective change.
Several beneficiaries of the program, including Jorum Safari, Speaker of Bufundi Sub-County in Rubanda West Constituency, and Mrs. Edith Asiimwe, a change agent from Kashasha Town Council, shared their experiences of how Twaweza and LADA have empowered their communities through education, health, environment, disaster management, and other initiatives.
However, they challenged Twaweza and LADA to provide more substantial support, such as constructing wells, health facilities, and educational infrastructure, to address the needs of low-income community members.
