Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a socially responsive practice adopted by businesses that benefit the community. It demonstrates a gesture of responsibility to the people and the environment. CSR is a “self-regulating business model”. The modern CSR is premised on Carroll’s pyramid of CSR developed in 1996. The concept is relatively new in Uganda. Implementation of CSR presents fears and challenges to companies. The main objective of this study was to understand Corporate Social Responsibility practices in Uganda.
The study adopted the mixed-methods approach. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were employed in selection of participants. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS statistical software tool. The variables were measured, quantified and analyzed by regression analysis and presented by frequency tables, charts and graphs. Percentage, Mean and standard deviations were the statistics for basing opinions. Pearson’s chi square test was employed to test the hypothesis. The statistical techniques were chosen due to the function of their convenience and ability to present effective comparisons of various responses
From the results, the main CSR approach employed by the companies was community support pointing to philanthropy. The general perception has been that management is responsible in implementing CSR activities. On sustainability, CSR practices were in place but not sustainable. The main motives for practicing CSR included providing benefit to the community and attracting more customers. The study uncovered that although stakeholder theory had been widely adopted to support CSR practices, the philanthropic approach employed without any laws or regulations in place has a linkage to the ‘Theory of planned behaviour’. It has been evident that the selected companies’ focus on CSR was too narrow and conceptualization primitive.
The implications of this finding are that CSR is ever evolving; the CSR position in developed economies is not comparable to developing economies; philanthropy is seen as the primary approach; and Stakeholder theory widely considered for CSR is relative and not universal.