Participation of community leaders through consultation and transport infrastructure service delivery in Kanungu District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64792/jzwpa807Abstract
Background:
Effective consultations between leaders and community members are essential for participatory governance, transparency, and identification of local infrastructure priorities. The study, therefore, sought to establish the relationship between community leaders’ participation through consultations and transport infrastructure service delivery in Kanungu District.
Methodology:
The study adopted a correlational and cross-sectional research design using a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 159 respondents was selected from a target population of 270 stakeholders, including district leaders, technical staff, councilors, and community leaders. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression results, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results:
There was a high response rate of 84.9%, with the majority of respondents being male (65%) and holding bachelor’s degrees (45%). The study established that community leaders’ consultations were moderately practiced in Kanungu District, particularly in identifying community priorities (Mean = 3.99) and encouraging open discussions (Mean = 3.97). However, weaknesses existed in feedback mechanisms and continuity of consultations. Transport infrastructure service delivery was rated generally poor, especially regarding road safety (Mean = 2.44), maintenance effectiveness (Mean = 2.57), and usability during rainy seasons (Mean = 2.46). Correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between consultations and transport infrastructure service delivery (r = 0.76, p < 0.01). Regression results further indicated that consultations significantly influenced service delivery (β = 0.36, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The study established that effective leaders’ consultations positively influence transport infrastructure service delivery by improving the identification of community needs and strengthening participation in infrastructure planning.
Recommendation:
Kanungu District Local Government should strengthen regular community consultation meetings at village, parish, and sub-county levels to ensure that road infrastructure priorities reflect the actual needs of residents.
References
1. Abdi, M., Okeyo, W., & Machoka, P. (2024). Community participation and road project performance in Kenya. International Journal of Infrastructure Development, 8(2), 45–59.
2. Al-Hawari, S., Ibrahim, M., & Hassan, A. (2022). Stakeholder engagement and participatory governance in infrastructure planning. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 14(3), 112–124.
3. Bryman, A. (2026). Social research methods (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
4. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2024). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
5. Kanungu District Local Government. (2025). District development plan 2020–2025. Kanungu District Local Government.
6. Kanungu District Works Department. (2025). Annual works and technical services report. Kanungu District Local Government.
7. Dzakaklo, K., Mensah, P., & Owusu, A. (2023). Institutional challenges and community participation in local government service delivery. African Journal of Public Administration, 12(1), 55–70.
8. Fung, A., & Wright, E. O. (2003). Deepening democracy: Institutional innovations in empowered participatory governance. Verso.
9. Kamusiime, R. (2024). Community participation and decentralized road service delivery in Bushenyi District, Uganda. Uganda Journal of Local Governance, 6(1), 66–81.
10. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
11. Mhina, J. (2025). Community participation in rural road maintenance projects in Tanzania. African Journal of Development Studies, 11(2), 90–104.
12. Namugambe, P. (2026). Community participation and road service delivery in Wakiso District, Uganda. East African Journal of Public Administration, 9(1), 33–48.
13. Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., & Mashiri, M. (2019). Transport infrastructure, mobility, and rural livelihoods in developing countries. Journal of Transport Geography, 74, 1–10.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kate Tumusiime, Dr. Doreen Akunda, Edmand Kabashaba (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is the most open of the Creative Commons licenses. It allows others to copy, share, remix, adapt, and build upon the material — even for commercial purposes — provided that proper credit is given to the original author(s).
You are free to:
-
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
-
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms:
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in a way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
-
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
-
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all the permissions necessary for your intended use. Other rights, such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights, may limit how you use the material.
