Citizen-to-Citizen vs. Citizen-to-government eparticipation in Uganda: Implications for research and practice

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is growing globally, as is interest in the use of digital technologies to improve citizens’ participation in governance. In African countries, where ICT use remains low and where there is a democratic deficit, the nature and extent of citizens’ participation via ICT is unknown. Based on a print questionnaire with 322 internet users in Uganda, this paper compares citizen-to-citizen (C2C) participation and citizen-to-government (C2G) participation, examines the factors that hinder greater C2C and C2G online participation, and explores the implications for greater eParticipation in future. For effective eParticipation, the majority of Ugandan internet users need to become more active as creators of online content, as well as conversationalists and critics. Results show that regardless of whether it is engagements among citizens or between citizens and leaders, most citizens are spectators.