Access to information is key in fighting corruption
When Ugandans can readily obtain accurate and timely information about public funds, policies, services and government decisions, they are better equipped to question shortcomings, expose misuse of resources and demand better services, writes Lilian Zawedde Senteza
Lilian Zawedde Senteza. (Courtesy)
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OPINION
By Lilian Zawedde Senteza
As the world marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Uganda has an important opportunity to reflect on whether citizens can readily obtain the public information they need to participate in decision-making, monitor public resources and hold leaders accountable. The 2026 commemoration focuses on Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder. This theme is especially relevant to Uganda, where accurate, timely and accessible public information remains essential to combating misinformation, strengthening trust and reducing corruption.
Access to public information is the cornerstone of an accountable government. When citizens can obtain accurate, timely and relevant information about public policies, budgets and decision-making, they can hold leaders to account, participate meaningfully in public life and reduce opportunities for corruption. In an era where rumours, incomplete information and misinformation can spread quickly, access to reliable information directly from public institutions is also vital for information integrity. Yet, in Uganda, the promise of a robust right to information remains only partially realised, undermining anti-corruption efforts at different levels.
Requests are often delayed, denied or ignored, while proactive disclosure remains limited. This means that although Uganda has made progress in law and policy, the practical enjoyment of the right to information is still constrained by several persistent challenges such as limited proactive disclosure weak request mechanisms, misuse or overly broad interpretation of exemptions, low public awareness of the right to information and of the procedures for making requests, among others.
Across Uganda, the consequences of restricted information are felt in practical ways; A mother may want to know why her health centre has no drugs but cannot easily access appropriate records. A parent may ask why a teacher is frequently absent but struggle to obtain school attendance records or inspection reports. A farmer may hear about government inputs or subsidies but miss out because eligibility criteria, beneficiary lists or distribution schedules are not publicly shared. A youth group may wish to apply for a local-government youth grant but never see the call for applications or the selection criteria.
A trader may suspect that a market stall or supply contract was unfairly awarded but cannot access procurement notices or award records. A resident may want to know why a road, borehole or classroom project stalled but cannot trace released funds, contractor details or implementation reports. In many cases, people simply want to know where public money went, yet the information is not easy to access. Such everyday information gaps do more than frustrate citizens and over time weakens public trust and creates the impression that public institutions work for a few rather than for all.
Ensuring that Ugandans fully enjoy the right to information requires coordinated action by government, civil society, the media, Parliament, oversight bodies, development partners and citizens.
Government and public institutions should proactively publish public information in accessible formats and local languages, strengthen information access units with adequate staffing and budgets, narrow the use of exemptions by requiring clear written reasons and review, simplify how citizens make requests while respecting legal response times, protect journalists, whistleblowers and ordinary requesters from harassment, and invest in both digital and offline channels so that people everywhere can access public information.
Parliament and oversight bodies should use disclosed information more actively during audits, inquiries, and oversight visits, require evidence of functioning information systems when reviewing agency budgets and performance, and review RTI-related laws to close gaps and remove ambiguities that hinder implementation.
Donors and development partners should prioritise strengthening local access to information by investing in information management systems, training, and digital platforms, while also supporting grassroots initiatives such as Right to Information training, litigation funds, and civic technology projects that enhance transparency and accountability.
Citizens and communities can strengthen accountability by actively filing information requests, pursuing appeals when denied, and publicly sharing successful disclosures. They should organise community forums where officials present budgets and project updates, using tools like scorecards and public hearings to turn information into collective action. At the same time, building support networks is essential to protect and empower community members who expose corruption or malfeasance, ensuring transparency efforts are sustained and safeguarded.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information is a reminder that access to information is not a technical nicety. It is a practical antidote to corruption, exclusion and misinformation. When information flows, when budgets, contracts and performance data are visible and usable, opportunities for embezzlement and patronage shrink. The law exists, the demand is growing, and with coordinated action informed by the reports and audits cited above, Uganda can turn the promise of access to information into a powerful engine for accountability.
The writer is a program manager at Transparency International Uganda