Effective Communication Coordination for Ugandan Engaged Actors of Focus in Public Policy Research in Public Administration Integrity

Background: Uganda’s national motto, “For God and My Country,” reflects a deeply religious and value-oriented society, where approximately 97% of the population believes in God and 82% consider religion very important in their daily lives. These moral foundations shape strong societal expectations regarding ethical conduct, accountability, and integrity in public administration. However, despite this ethical backdrop, Uganda continues to face persistent governance and integrity challenges. Public trust in state institutions declined from 54% in 2017 to 47% in 2024/25, while the country scored 26 out of 100 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), positioning it among countries with significant corruption risks both regionally and globally. Uganda operates as a republic with executive, legislative, and judicial branches, supported by decentralized local governments. Yet institutional weaknesses, fragmented communication, and ethical lapses continue to undermine public confidence and policy effectiveness. Research Question: How can strategic communication mechanisms improve ethical standards and integrity in Ugandan public administration? Objectives: The paper pursues three objectives: (1) to assess the nexus between communication practices, public ethics, and governance outcomes; (2) to evaluate the roles of key institutions such as Parliament, the Judiciary, and anti-corruption bodies in ethical communication; and (3) to recommend best practices for ethical communication aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) acceleration, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Methods: The p applies an Information Diffusion Theory of Change to examine how ethical norms and accountability messages spread within public institutions and to citizens. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is complemented by policy and document analysis of Ugandan governance and anti-corruption frameworks. In addition, North–South and South–South partnership analyses and SDG acceleration frameworks are used to identify ethical communication levers and coordination gaps among engaged actors in public administration and policy research. Results: Findings reveal entrenched ethical challenges, reflected in the CPI score of 26/100 and declining institutional trust at 47%. Public perception surveys indicate that 33.5% of citizens believe corruption is widespread, with bribery cited at 17%, embezzlement at 13%, and nepotism at 10%. Weak communication coordination, limited ethics training, and inconsistent policy messaging across government departments hinder ethical compliance and accountability. Institutions with clearer communication mandates and public engagement mechanisms demonstrate comparatively higher credibility and responsiveness. Conclusion: Strategic communication that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and inclusive dialogue can significantly strengthen public policy ethics and integrity in Uganda. Embedding ethical narratives within administrative communication enhances institutional moral capital and rebuilds citizen trust. Recommendations: The paper recommends establishing dedicated ethics communication units across ministries to translate policy into accessible, citizen-friendly information. Media partnerships and civic technology platforms should be leveraged to promote transparency and informed public discourse. Continuous training of public officials in ethical communication and SDG frameworks is essential. Finally, multi-stakeholder North–South and South–South policy exchanges should be strengthened to share best practices and reinforce ethical governance standards.