The influence of Communication in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration: Empirical evidence learnt from Uganda, in Horn of Africa

  • Unique Paper ID: 204716
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 1
  • PageNo: 4000-4009
  • Abstract:
  • This study examined the role of communication in promoting transparency and accountability in public administration, with specific reference to Government in Uganda. Guided by Democratic Participant Theory and Public Sphere Theory, the study explored how communication enhances citizen participation, democracy, and good governance in local governments. A mixed methodology was adopted and it facilitated collection of qualitative data and a case research design was employed for in-depth understanding of the variable under investigation. The study used interviews, survey and, focus group discussions. The study collected data from 122 research representatives’ who were scientifically selected across sub-counties and a town council in Uganda, Horn of Africa. Findings revealed that effective communication promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen participation by enabling citizens to monitor leaders and engage in decision-making processes. However, the district’s communication system was constrained by delayed information dissemination, inadequate feedback mechanisms, limited outreach to rural communities, and low public awareness of communication tools. Radio and notice boards were the most commonly used channels, although their impact remained limited. The study further found gender disparities in access to information, with women facing greater challenges. The study concludes that ineffective communication undermines democratic governance and accountability in local governments. It recommends strengthening communication structures, improving timely information dissemination, and promoting two-way communication to enhance transparency and citizen engagement in the Horn of Africa.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{204716,
        author = {Henry Omara and Assoc. Prof. Mark Kiiza and Daniel SAIRE},
        title = {The influence of Communication in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration: Empirical evidence learnt from Uganda, in Horn of Africa},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {4000-4009},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204716},
        abstract = {This study examined the role of communication in promoting transparency and accountability in public administration, with specific reference to Government in Uganda. Guided by Democratic Participant Theory and Public Sphere Theory, the study explored how communication enhances citizen participation, democracy, and good governance in local governments. A mixed methodology was adopted and it facilitated collection of qualitative data and a case research design was employed for in-depth understanding of the variable under investigation.  The study used interviews, survey and, focus group discussions. The study collected data from 122 research representatives’ who were scientifically selected across sub-counties and a town council in Uganda, Horn of Africa. Findings revealed that effective communication promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen participation by enabling citizens to monitor leaders and engage in decision-making processes. However, the district’s communication system was constrained by delayed information dissemination, inadequate feedback mechanisms, limited outreach to rural communities, and low public awareness of communication tools. Radio and notice boards were the most commonly used channels, although their impact remained limited. The study further found gender disparities in access to information, with women facing greater challenges. The study concludes that ineffective communication undermines democratic governance and accountability in local governments. It recommends strengthening communication structures, improving timely information dissemination, and promoting two-way communication to enhance transparency and citizen engagement in the Horn of Africa.},
        keywords = {Communication, Transparency, Accountability, Local Government, Citizen Participation},
        month = {June},
        }

Cite This Article

Omara, H., & Kiiza, A. P. M., & SAIRE, D. (2026). The influence of Communication in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration: Empirical evidence learnt from Uganda, in Horn of Africa. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT). https://doi.org/doi.org/10.64643/IJIRTV13I1-204716-459

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