Public participatory GIS tool for supporting citizen involvement in strategic planning of local government service delivery: a case of Kira Municipality in Uganda

Abstract

Citizen participation is a cornerstone of effective and democratic local governance. In Uganda, the decentralization framework provides for citizen involvement in planning and decision-making; however, in practice, participation in the strategic planning of Local Government (LG) service delivery remains limited. This study aimed to develop a Public Participatory Geographical Information System (PPGIS) tool for supporting citizen involvement in the strategic planning of LG service delivery. Specifically, the research sought to: (1) examine existing challenges and requirements for citizen participation; (2) design a PPGIS tool to support citizen involvement; (3) implement the tool; and (4) test and validate its effectiveness. An exploratory survey and a case study design were employed, focusing on Kira Municipality. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews from both citizens and LG officials. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was thematically analyzed. The findings revealed persistent barriers to citizen participation, including limited GIS capacity, inadequate institutional support, and insufficient access to information. In response, a PPGIS tool (CISP) was designed, implemented, and validated to facilitate interactive and spatially enabled participation in strategic planning. CISP demonstrated the potential to improve transparency, collaboration, and real-time feedback between citizens and LG officials. The study concludes that integrating PPGIS into local governance processes can strengthen participatory decision-making and accountability. It recommends further adoption of such tools across Ugandan LGs to promote inclusive, data-driven, and citizen-centered service delivery.