The advent of the community-based monitoring model into Karamoja has ushered in much-desired changes, accountability and transparency in the way local governments deliver services in the Karamoja sub-region.

A number of schools have been built, boreholes drilled, cattle slaughter sheds constructed and roads maintained. This was never the case.

The relationship between community-based monitors and the Karamoja sub-region dates back a few years to when the Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) started pushing the model so as to get the people from Karamoja more interested in the affairs of their community.

To this day, sectors in which the community monitors have had an influence include education, health, roads and water and sanitation.

Through this model, community monitors make routine visits to these service points and take note of service gaps. The community monitors are have had community engagements and dialogues with their leaders and a number of service gaps rectified as a result. The community engagements have been supported by ACCU and Karamoja Anti Corruption Coalition (KACC)

At the recent visit to Karamoja, community monitors affiliated to Karamoja Anti Corruption Coalition and ACCU monitored nine schools, of these 7 were primary schools while the two were secondary schools. It was also noted that the school fencing exercise had been completed at Namorotot Primary School while Nakapiripirit Seed SSS had completed the construction of a laboratory block. Works on the dormitory were still ongoing, and progressing as per schedule.

Three health centres were also visited in which the monitors interacted with patients, medical workers and observed that the maternity ward of Nakapiripirit Health Centre III had been completed. The community monitors also played a vital role in demanding the maintenance of three access roads in Nakapiripirit town Council and visited nine boreholes and solar pump projects. The community monitors also interacted with the water user beneficiaries.

In Moroto, a community cattle slaughter shed has been completed with the capacity to process over 100 heads of cattle per day. This development is certain to ensure that Karamoja becomes a leading exporter of hygienic beef and other animal products to neighbouring districts.