Integrated Financial Management Information System and Financial Management in Selected Local Governments in Uganda.

Abstract

SSEMANDA HENRY (2012-M102-20061) Integrated Financial Management Information System and Financial Management in Selected Local Governments in Uganda. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) and financial management in local governments. Particularly, the study sought to assess the relationship between data inputs, data processing and outputs of IFMIS and financial management in local governments. This study adopted a survey/time dimension approach/design involving both qualitative and quantitative methods which allowed the researcher to collect a variety of information and in turn achieve validity and reliability. The investigation was based on the primary data collected both qualitatively and quantitatively. Variations and associations in respondents‟ characteristics of sex, age, marital status, education and the study themes of IFMIS inputs, processes and output were investigated in relation to financial management(the dependent variable) using the Pearson correlation and linear regression. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents were males with 65%, predominantly married (74.4%), and aged above 35years (86%). At the bivariate level it was observed that at a 95 percent level of significance: all the themes were significantly related to financial management (p<0.05). At the multivariate level, there is a significant relationship between financial management and IFMIS processing (p=0.01) and that, the more IFMIS processing procedures are streamlined and strengthened, the better results in financial management (coef.=0.539). However, there was no significant relationship between IFMIS input, IFMIS output in relation to financial management (P>0.05). These findings, therefore, meant that, efforts geared towards improving and masterly of IFMIS processes/processing functionalities should be emphasised so as to realise better financial management at local governments. The researcher recommends that the system support arrangement and trainings for IFMIS should be geared toward users‟ understanding of the various processes and implication, given the system design to address the intended outputs during financial management. Key Words: Integrated Financial Management, Information, Local Governments