El Assal showed that social accountability initiatives in the Global South cannot be understood only through information gaps, feedback loops or principal-agent relationships, arguing that accountability mechanisms are deeply shaped by power relations, clientelism, weak state capacity, donor influence and the growing role of non-state actors in public service delivery.

He also reflected on the political and institutional challenges of accountability in Uganda, particularly in a context shaped by foreign-aid dependency, decentralization reforms, patrimonial networks, securitized development and increasingly authoritarian governance.

Take a look at some photos taken during the defence.