An assessment of the role of civil society organisations in the fight against corruption in Uganda: A case study of the Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda Operations in Central Uganda

Abstract

The current study attempted to evaluate the role of civil society organisations in the fight against corruption in Uganda taking a case study of Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda. The study aimed at identifying the various common forms and causes of corruption, examining the institutional framework for fighting corruption and assessing the role of civil society organisations in the fight against corruption in Uganda. The anti-corruption and efficient pricing theories were consolidated into a conceptual framework in order to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses. The researcher adopted a case study design. Using purposive and convenience sampling, a total of 360 subjects participated in the study.Data was collected mainly by use of self administered questionaires. The target population included; stakeholders, government institutions, the general public and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Quantitative data analysis using the pearsons’s chi-square test of significance was employed in hypothesis testing. Findings of the study revealed that there are several common forms and causes of corruption, institutional frameworks for fighting corruption are available but inadequate and civil society organisations have a continued role and commitment in the fight against corruption in Uganda. The study concluded that appropriate and timely interventions and mechanisms are urgently required in the struggle against corruption in the country. The study finally recommended that there is need to improve institutional development capacity of CSOs to ensure increased flexibility, efficiency, accountability, coherence and responsiveness and that the socio-economic standards should be operationalised and dictated by the current reforms and existing structures if the struggle against corruption is to be accomplished; and that a clear and sound policy to fight corruption needs to be established and the current one reviewed through appropriate mechanisms and timely interventions being given top priority.