Centre for citizens communications and Justice (CECICOJU) is a Non Governmental organization operating in the extreme west of Uganda. Centre for Citizen Communication and Justice acts as a Voice for Citizens to address, well defined social accountability approach to community development. Aware that Social accountability approaches rely on mobilizing and equipping citizens not only to understand their rights and hold government to account for its commitments and to bring about institutional change, but also to understand their responsibilities in bringing about this change.

CECICOJU is a community approach that aims to improve delivery of services (including public services) and functioning of institutions by transforming the relationship between citizens (service users) and governments (service providers). CECICOJU is designed to increase dialogue between citizens and the governments to improve on service delivery or address institutional and governance issues that affect the daily lives of their children and families, for example, education, health, food security and environment per their own set standards.

The approach gives communities the platform to learn their rights and responsibilities which transforms how they think about themselves and their governments. In the process they learn how to raise concerns and engage with government representatives in ways proved to ensure that governments do respond.

 

CECICOJU also gives citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions about what makes a good public service delivery, for example, what constitutes a good extension service, school, clinic, or other government service. Once citizens generate indicators that describe what makes a good service, they then rate the performance of services against the indicators. Communities work with other stakeholders to influence decision makers to improve services and address institutional weaknesses using a simple set of advocacy tools.

 We engage in promoting justice, peace and human rights through education, awareness, campaign, training, outreach (Legal / Medical) and capacity building.

How best can people know their rights or claim same except through awareness, education and training? How best can people learn to maintain peace? How best can justice be promoted and applied. To an extent the answer to theses questions revolves around education, campaign, capacity building, training and awareness, etc.

We have planned many events aimed at creating awareness, educating and training people to know their rights and what help is available to them in the event of violation. Our brilliant and enthusiastic Committee members help us in designing strategies for tackling common issues that hinder peace, justice and human rights in Africa and around the world.

We lobby and collaborate with private individuals, non governmental organizations, institutions and governments to promote justice, peace and human rights through different avenues.

Improving the delivery of services by strengthening accountability systems, increasing inclusive participation and engaging civil society

The delivery of government services throughout Uganda has been challenged by a lack of accountability, inefficient systems, and low levels of citizen participation.

A major part of the problem is the lack of opportunities for citizens to participate in the governance process, particularly in rural communities. Many Ugandans do not have a consistent, reliable way to express their needs or explain lingering problems to government officials.  And many local governments processes that are supposed to solicit input from citizens are weak and irregular.

What is the result of this disconnect? Inaction; weak communication channels between elected officials, public servants and constituents; inadequate tax revenue collection to support basic services; and widespread questions about the fairness and legitimacy of procurement and staff recruitment processes.

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