Government of Informed Citizens

Introduction Democracy requires that citizens have the right to participate in management of society by holding elected and public officials accountable Democracy forces governments to be more accountable for policies that improve the welfare of citizens Citizens who elect government want service from it and therefore need information to participate in deciding how funds are spent Citizens as tax payers contribute to government treasury and therefore need a voice in distribution of these funds. To be able to participate in the process, citizens need timely, relevant and clear information. Informed citizens give pressure towards public accountability and reduce corruption

Democracy requires that citizens have the right to participate in management of society by holding elected and public officials accountable

Democracy forces governments to be more accountable for policies that improve the welfare of citizens

Citizens who elect government want service from it and therefore need information to participate in deciding how funds are spent

Citizens as tax payers contribute to government treasury and therefore need a voice in distribution of these funds.

To be able to participate in the process, citizens need timely, relevant and clear information.

Informed citizens give pressure towards public accountability and reduce corruption

How to Make Citizens Understand how Public Funds are spent Research has shown that majority of governments effectively deny citizens basic information on how public funds are spent In most countries, citizens often complain that governments provide inadequate, inappropriate, inferior or too costly to their hard earned tax payments. There is no comprehensive and timely information needed to participate in budgeting and holding govt accountable. This lack of transparency encourages inappropriate, wasteful and corrupt spending. This has made modern democracies to invest significant resources to ensure that relevant information is availed to citizens

Research has shown that majority of governments effectively deny citizens basic information on how public funds are spent

In most countries, citizens often complain that governments provide inadequate, inappropriate, inferior or too costly to their hard earned tax payments.

There is no comprehensive and timely information needed to participate in budgeting and holding govt accountable.

This lack of transparency encourages inappropriate, wasteful and corrupt spending.

This has made modern democracies to invest significant resources to ensure that relevant information is availed to citizens

Making Citizens Understand continued Information is key to public financial management and plays a key role in resource assessment, allocation and priotization in the overall financial management. Information allows majority of people to be included in the budget process, improves budget performance and citizens participation to make government accountable Access to information helps to promote transparency in public sector accountability Access to information implies that citizens have a variety of sources of important information to aid decision making Active and informed citizens hold policy makers accountable for their actions and omissions

Information is key to public financial management and plays a key role in resource assessment, allocation and priotization in the overall financial management.

Information allows majority of people to be included in the budget process, improves budget performance and citizens participation to make government accountable

Access to information helps to promote transparency in public sector accountability

Access to information implies that citizens have a variety of sources of important information to aid decision making

Active and informed citizens hold policy makers accountable for their actions and omissions

How to Keep Citizens Informed Democratic governance requires governments to create means by which citizens voice their concerns and gain control over resources Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda recognizes the right of citizens to participate in affairs of government. The media is the link between the citizens and their representatives in government and an integral part of democracy The media plays an important role in scrutinizing and strengthening democratic institutions by communicating information to citizens. An independent media ensures that central issues in the budget are understood by citizens and changes the mindset and docility of citizens to make them aware that resources spent belong to them and not “government”

Democratic governance requires governments to create means by which citizens voice their concerns and gain control over resources

Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda recognizes the right of citizens to participate in affairs of government.

The media is the link between the citizens and their representatives in government and an integral part of democracy

The media plays an important role in scrutinizing and strengthening democratic institutions by communicating information to citizens.

An independent media ensures that central issues in the budget are understood by citizens and changes the mindset and docility of citizens to make them aware that resources spent belong to them and not “government”

Conclusion Effective governments depend on empowered citizens who are able to understand their rights and effectively claim them In order for citizens to play an important role, public officials and political leaders must have regular communication with citizens. Citizen consultation and participation reinforces democracy and stability and therefore promotes transparency in government The media is better positioned to stimulate democratic participation and protect public interest by holding those in power accountable It is only through information that citizens can demand to know the way public funds are spent. The media therefore needs support.

Effective governments depend on empowered citizens who are able to understand their rights and effectively claim them

In order for citizens to play an important role, public officials and political leaders must have regular communication with citizens.

Citizen consultation and participation reinforces democracy and stability and therefore promotes transparency in government

The media is better positioned to stimulate democratic participation and protect public interest by holding those in power accountable

It is only through information that citizens can demand to know the way public funds are spent.

The media therefore needs support.

Thank You for Listening

Thank You for Listening