Effect of Direct Citizen Participation on Delivery of Public Services in a Decentralized System

Abdul Wahhab Kiiza & Awobamise Ayodeji
Team University, Uganda
Email: abdulwahab.kiiza@gmail.com

Abstract: The study was set to examine the influence of direct citizen participation on the quality of public service delivery in a decentralized system of governance. This study employed a cross-sectional research design on a population of 242 respondents selected using simple random and stratified techniques. A questionnaire was basically used as the tool for data collection. Findings were presented in summary tables and analyzed using the mean and standard deviation. A correlation analysis and regression were used to determine the association between direct and indirect citizen participation in service delivery. Results indicate a positive and significant relationship (r =.273**; p =.000) between direct citizen participation and public service delivery in decentralized governments. Regression results indicate a beta value of 0.824, indicating that the two variables—citizen participation and public service delivery—are positively correlated. On the other hand, the B-value of 0.438 indicates that any unit change in citizen participation brings about a 0.438-unit improvement in public service delivery in decentralized systems of government. Conclusively, the study shows a strong positive correlation between citizen participation and public service delivery. Policymakers and government officials should prioritize promoting citizen engagement for better outcomes. Financial constraints, lack of expertise, disagreements on conflict, and discrimination are significant barriers to citizen participation. Addressing these issues can create a more inclusive and equitable system.