Whereas various actors, including
CSOs, are doing commendable work in improving transparency and accountability,
including enabling citizen
voice and
advocating for duty bearer responsiveness through Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) and offline engagements, their efforts are undermined
by limited reach to actors and geographical regions, as well as inadequate
elevation of issues raised in their work to public officials, including
decision makers at district and national level.

Meanwhile, Ugandan
media face several challenges in meaningfully executing the role expected of
them as the Fourth Estate. These challenges include inadequate research and
sourcing, cumbersome access to public sector information, and weak relations
with sources including civil society actors. These challenges hamper the media
from playing an active role as a watchdog that holds state and non-state
parties accountable, as an enabler of debate of issues of community and
national concern, as a driver of transparency, and as a promoter of the public
good.

 Addressing
these challenges requires a closer working relationship between the media and
CSOs engaged in T&A work, and development of new skills by both stakeholder groups.