ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN UGANDA: A CASE-STUDY OF ADJUMANI DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of accountability on service delivery in Adjumani district local government from 2003 to 2011. Political, managerial and financial accountabilities were identified as the dimensions under Independent Variable that affected service delivery (Dependent Variable), with government policies/regulations as the Moderating Variable. The methods of data collection used in this case study were; questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion and document review. Meanwhile, statistical methods (Spearman Rank Correlation and Coefficient of Determination) were used to analyse data to determine relationships and level of significance respectively. Qualitative data were also triangulated and accordingly interpreted. The study findings are as follows; the level of service delivery is significantly dependent on political accountability, service delivery significantly dependent on managerial accountability, the service delivery also significantly dependent on financial accountability and the level of service delivery is significantly dependent on government policies/regulations. In view of these findings, the researcher recommends that: first, the district council should strengthen civil society organisations; secondly, coordination amongst the different government departments in the district should be strengthened; thirdly, the financial management system should be strengthened; and finally, the line ministries should strengthen inspection of government programmes in the district. The study concludes that, the political accountability has a positive significant effect on the service delivery by 34%, managerial accountability has a positive significant effect on the service delivery by 19% variation, financial accountability has a positive effect on the service delivery by 15% variation and government policies/regulations has a positive significant effect on the service delivery by 23% in Adjumani district local government.