The impact of unethical conduct among civil servants on service delivery: a case study of Kitgum District .

Abstract

This scholarly study had to be undertaken due to the growing recognition of the threats posed by ethical violations in the public service in different parts of the world. Citizens and taxpayers have an important and legitimate interest in the value for money provided by institutions that use public money. It was therefore of paramount importance to carry out the study so as to find out the unethical conduct prevalence among civil servants and the impact ethical violation has on service delivery in Kitgum District.

The study’s main objective was to discover the various types of unethical conduct in Kitgum district and its impact on service delivery. Specific objectives included: To find out factors underlying unethical conduct among civil servants in Kitgun district and the effectiveness of the various measures put in place by the NRM government to combat unethical conduct.

The investigation learnt that unethical conduct such as bribery, abuse of public property; poor client care, nepotism, absenteeism and selfishness are common among civil servants in Kitgum District. These conduct had negative impact on service delivery. Unethical conduct has led to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in service delivery, provision of very low quality services, abuse of human rights, boycott of services delivered by civil service and it has also retarded growth in Kitgum district.

This study was conducted using a case study. Kitgum District was the case selected. It was both descriptive and normative. The total sample size selected was 150. Study population consisted of civil servants and the general population.

Recommendations advanced by the researcher included: Need to build inner conscience through Ethics training, improvement of the working conditions and reviewing measures put in place to curb ethical violations and severe punishment of offenders.