This article calls for the entity’s appreciation of the CoST Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) tool in promoting transparency and accountability in the delivery of government-funded infrastructure projects. According to the recently completed 2024 ITI report for the CoST Uganda Program, this highlighted plausible progress in the country’s infrastructure transparency with an 11.46% improvement up to 32.26% in 2024 from 20.8% in 2021.
Entities that appreciate this tool have exhibited marked improvement compared with others that might have not yet embraced the tool. Evidence shows Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA improved by 23.5% scoring 80.26% up from 62.73 in 2021 ITI, -the Office of the President improved by 23.5% scoring55.23% in 2024 up from 31.75% in 2021, the Ministry of Water and Environment improved by 13.8% after scoring 22.28% up from 8.44% and the Ministry of Education and Sports also improved by 13% by scoring 22.8% up from 9.18% in 2021. This evidence of improvements indicates a willingness, operational effectiveness, and efficiency in delivering infrastructure projects by the entities. Whereas at the district level, Jinja district improved by 35.2% by 40.97% up from 5.76% in 2021. A regression was recorded with the National Social Security Fund declining by -28.8% down from 33.74% in 2021 and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company declined by -5% down from 9.16% in 2021. This decline shows structural, operational, and capacity challenges that need to be addressed by the entities to achieve full transparency and accountability. On a good note, there was an improvement in all dimensions, but the performance is still not very impressive since it’s below average of 50%. It’s evident from the government procurement portal (GPP) that there is an increasing decline in data publication, and yet this is the appropriate way through which infrastructure data can be easily accessed by the citizen for scrutiny and to facilitate their participation and holding entities accountable.
Implications of good and bad transparency and accountability performance by entities: For improved performance, there is increased citizen engagement and participation in the public procurement and infrastructure sector, and that can lead to quality infrastructure deliveries and value for money. The declining performance of transparency and accountability by some entities is due to issues of attitudes, and operational and capacity challenges which may result in the risk of corrupt practices as citizen engagement is not harnessed, poor quality infrastructure delivery, and compromised standards that undermine value for money. There is declining data publication on GPP, and yet various efforts are being put in place to increase data publication in Uganda. CoST Uganda will continue to embrace data disclosure and promote transparency and accountability in the delivery of infrastructure projects through different tools and mechanisms.
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