[{"bbox": [85, 289, 341, 321], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [97, 336, 333, 363], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Short problem analysis:**"}, {"bbox": [97, 393, 912, 420], "category": "Text", "text": "*Capacity of accountability and governance institutions to deliver on respective mandates*"}, {"bbox": [97, 449, 1135, 738], "category": "Text", "text": "Notwithstanding improvements in the policy, legal and regulatory framework in the last five years, governance and accountability institutions face challenges that undermine their capacity to discharge their respective mandates. For example, the UhRC had a large portion of its development budget drawn from the now-closed DGF. Regional offices have been hardest hit with this decline in funding. Although accountability institutions such as the IG, PPDA and OAG all have strategic plans, there remain significant weaknesses in the accountability cycle such as planning, resource mobilisation, independent audit and external review, oversight and public accountability. The DEI has established 86 District Integrity Promotion Forums (DIPFs), but their functionality to coordinate accountability action has also been curtailed due to lack of funding. The Parliament of Uganda also has a strategic plan, however many areas, including training and capacity building for MPs, remain unfunded. While advocacy continues, it is viewed as unlikely that allocations from the treasury in the coming years will increase sufficiently to meet these needs."}, {"bbox": [97, 767, 1135, 1007], "category": "Text", "text": "As part of a strategy to overcome this drop in funding, governance and accountability institutions are now leveraging digital technology. This allows for institutions to engage with rights holders including through web-based platforms for a range of purposes: sharing of audit report recommendations and citizens' feedback platforms (OAG); contract monitoring (PPDA); corruption reporting (SHACU) and rights violation reporting (UHRC). All the platforms are operated, managed and located in Kampala. Parliament is also exploring ways to enhance its outreach to citizens, and make the activities of its oversight and accountability committees more efficient, transparent and connected to citizens. While access to and functionality of ICT platforms beyond the capital is relatively limited, and interoperability remains an issue, digitisation nevertheless provides a sound building block that can be adapted and scaled up according to regional needs."}, {"bbox": [97, 1033, 1135, 1145], "category": "Text", "text": "While the transition from a sector to a programmatic approach under the NDP III is supposed to lead to stronger result orientation of the public sector, it could also result in an increasing centralization and securitization of the justice and governance sectors. With some governance and accountability institutions now located in different programmes more effort is required for collaboration between them."}, {"bbox": [97, 1174, 1135, 1308], "category": "Text", "text": "There is a formal five-year collaboration framework (2021-2026) between OAG, PPDA and IG aimed at increasing institutional effectiveness⁷. Although there is improvement in collaboration relating to investigations, according to the strategy, there are still gaps in audit and stakeholder engagement; and collaboratively addressing the limited public understanding of the mandates of the tripartite institutions. The tripartite collaboration is also yet to be put into practice at the regional levels."}, {"bbox": [97, 1334, 1135, 1547], "category": "Text", "text": "The sub-national footprint of governance and accountability bodies is also essential. At the regional level, OAG has 11 branches with the primary responsibility of auditing local governments. Even though current capacities for local audits are limited, the OAG is considering expanding the scope of its branch offices to provide all services to all citizens, including engagement with stakeholders and collaboration with civil society organisations operating across the regions. Parliament is also looking to make more of its ready-made footprint in each district, through MPs role as *ex officio* members of local councils. Similarly, the PPDA is increasing its presence in the regions. UhRC has twelve regional offices. All these regional offices have critical needs in terms of ICT infrastructure and basic equipment."}, {"bbox": [85, 1572, 1145, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ The strategy is articulated around 4 objectives namely: i) to strengthen systems and structures for effective and sustainable collaboration; ii) to enhance the quality, impact and timeliness of collaborative audits and investigations; iii) to strengthen the capacity of the institutions in the collaboration."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 25"}]