An Assessment of the Constraints to Citizen Participation in the Decentralised Budget Process: The Case of Kayunga Town Council.

Abstract

KAFULUMA GEOFREY (2011-M092-20011) An Assessment of the Constraints to Citizen Participation in the Decentralised Budget Process: The Case of Kayunga Town Council. This study assessed the constraints to citizen participation in decentralised budget process in Kayunga Town Council with specific objectives of establishing the level of citizen participation in decentralised budget process; assessing the obstacles to citizen participation in decentralised budget process and; assessing how exclusion of citizens from the process impacts on service delivery. The question of how citizen participation in the decentralised budget process can be improved within Kayunga Town Council was also relevant during this research. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used throughout this research, hence enabling the researcher to collect, present and interpret verbal data and analyse numerical data using frequencies and percentages from fifty seven (57) respondents respectively. Purposive and simple random techniques were key in identifying specific respondents. The major findings of the study included the failure to see clear outcomes of participation, the need to focus on agriculture rather than participation, poor community attitude towards participation, illiteracy and lack of information on the budget process and domination of meetings by views of people in authority. Recommendations were identified to ensure increased citizen participation in decentralised budget process making in Kayunga Town council. Community sensitisation and information sharing is key as this instils confidence and ensures participation from an informed point of view. Other recommendations included de-politicisation of community development projects, transparency and accountability from town council officials and an increment in funding or town council revenues. This will, therefore, ensure more participation of citizens in the decentralised budget process in the town council. Key Words: Constraints, Citizen Participation, Decentralized Budget Process, Kayunga Town Council