Government for Informed Citizens Nandala Mafabi

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

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

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

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”

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.

Thank You for Listening

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Government for Informed Citizens Nandala Mafabi

by icgfmconference on May 14, 2009

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Government for Informed Citizens Nandala Mafabi — Presentation Transcript