Title: When the Voice of the Voiceless Fails to Become a Voice: Who Becomes Accountable and to Whom? - A Case Study of Uganda
Authors: Dr. Twinomujuni Rosebell
Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara
Ahumuza Audrey
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 98-105
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
This study examined the accountability dynamics of the media in Uganda, exploring the paradox of a press widely celebrated as the 'voice of the voiceless' yet frequently failing to represent marginalized populations effectively. Using a cross-sectional mixed-methods design, data were collected from 600 purposively and randomly sampled respondents across four regions of Uganda - Central (Kampala), Northern, Eastern, and Western - supplemented by key informant interviews with journalists, civil society actors, regulatory officers, and community representatives. The study employed univariate descriptive analysis to profile respondents and assess patterns of media access and trust; bivariate chi-square analysis to examine associations between demographic variables and perceptions of media accountability; and multilevel logistic regression modelling to identify predictors of perceived accountability while controlling for district-level clustering. Findings revealed stark regional and educational disparities in perceptions of media accountability, with respondents in Northern Uganda and those with no formal education being the least likely to regard the media as accountable. The multilevel model demonstrated a significant intraclass correlation (ICC = 0.116), confirming that district-level contextual factors - including government interference and infrastructural access - significantly shaped individual perceptions. Social media access emerged as the strongest predictor of perceived accountability (OR = 3.24, p < 0.001), underscoring the growing role of digital platforms in bridging accountability gaps. Formal mechanisms such as the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) were found to be severely underutilised and associated with low satisfaction, while community radio call-ins remained the most accessed accountability channel. The study concluded that structural, regulatory, and infrastructural deficits perpetuate the accountability gap in Uganda's media landscape, and recommended regulatory reform, media literacy investment, and decentralisation of community media financing as priority interventions.