8/8/2019 Concept of uReport Technology

1/2

Concept of uReport System

Introduction

Uganda like many other countries is still faced with youth unemployment, violation of children's rights,poverty, high school drop-out rates and gender based violence e.t.c. The youth are threatened by

pandemic diseases i.e. HIV and AIDS; drug abuse and many of them have found themselves in difficult

circumstances especially on streets without basic needs i.e. food, shelter, clothing and lack ofeducation. Unfortunately a lot of financial resources both from Government and Development Partners

have been spent to address these challenges but the impact is not commensurate to the investment and

yet the beneficiaries i.e the children, youth and mothers do not have a platform to raise their voices orsadly have resigned to doing nothing. This calls for the need to wake-up the community and involve

young people more in the affairs that affect them.

Youth involvement and participation is very important because young people have the right to be

involved and to have their voice heard in decisions that will affect them. Participation is a fundamental

right of all people regardless of age. As far as young people are concerned, this right is enshrined in the

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 12.

uReport

Today, Uganda Scouts Association in partnership with UNICEF, is giving young people opportunitiesto participate in improving the quality of life in their community and acquire the necessary skills,

knowledge and attitudes to become real agents of development through the uReport Social Monitoring

system. uReport is a free SMS system that Scouts use to report on what is happening in theircommunity by establishing a vibrant two-way flow of communication. Beyond finding out what is

happening in communities, uReport is used to deliver vital information to the reporters to mobilize the

community to take action on several issues such as hand washing with water and soap, use of treated

insecticide mosquito nets e.t.c.

FunctionalityuReport works on a computer platform connected to a mobile applicationTo join uReport system and become a reporter there are several steps and qualifications required which

include;

You have to be a Scout

Has to be with a phone

Be able to reads and wright

Procedure

Type JOIN and send to 8500

After sending the message there are a series of automated questions that follow prompting you to give

your name, location, Scouting unit among others.All this information is stored in the database in our server for proper identification,

after you are officially ushered in as a uReporter. Weekly, you are prompted with several questions oncommunity based issues and your response is captured by the computer and ploted on a map depending

on the region you come from with indicators such as Red light showing a deficit or problem and Green

showing positive response.

After collecting the information the T4D (Technology For Development) department and the Scouts

management comes up with a course of action either to to mobilize the scouts in the area to take action

8/8/2019 Concept of uReport Technology

2/2

or report to the relevant authority for action.

uReporter has an option of quiting the system if one is no longer interested in participating in reporting,

by typing QUIT and sending to 8500.

uReport aims to stir community based action through Social Monitoring and has given Scouts an

opportunity to contribute daily towards creating a better world, to find ways to be constructive, and notto leave society to the care of others, when they themselves can be helpful. Every Scout commits to

using their competencies to help others, to share their knowledge, and to improve community life.

uReport has taken scouting to a totally different level of technological advancement through use of 21st

century technology of combining phone and computer technology to reach large masses with action

based approach, data storage and technology advancement.

It is our dire prayer and wish that Scouts all over the world join us on this path and make the world a

better place by combining their technology skills to come up with new inventions and innovations to

make us better.

Compiled by

Technology For DevelopmentConrad Natse