Corruption and its effects on socio-economic security: Case study of Musanze District (2014-2018)

Abstract

The issue of corruption is a pandemic that affects every society and country across the globe. It has been extensively researched at international and national levels. However, the available studies have not given their attention to study it at extensively at the local regional level. This study therefore, analyzed the effects of Corruption on Socio-Economic Security of Musanze District, Rwanda. It aimed at identifying the types of corruption, establishing the corruption status, finding out the corrupt institutions, establishing corruption effects, as well as suggesting strategies for fighting corruption in Musanze District.

The study was descriptive and applied the mixed methods approaches to collect, analyse, and present data. The study population was all institutions in Musanze District. 51 respondents were selected as a sample size. Purposive, cluster and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the study area, population and respondents respectively. Both secondary and primary data were collected. Primary data was collected using an instrument whose questions where both structured and unstructured so as to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of percentages and tables. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and presented narratively. Findings indicated that the corruption occurred in various forms including sex corruption (17.6%), corruption status was high (49%), mostly occurred in public institutions (District authorities, 20%) caused by lack of accountability (28.6%), and its effects included poor quality service delivery (24.5%). It was concluded that various forms of corruption existed in Musanze District at a high status in public institutions, with varying causes and effects that hampered the socio-economic security. The implications are that the study informs policy on the current status, causes and effects of corruption. It was recommended that the available legal measures be put in practice against the corrupt other than being in principle.