Accessibility Analysis of e-Government Websites in Tanzania using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2

Abstract

Digital accessibility is a critical component of inclusive e-governance, ensuring equitable access to information and services for all citizens, including individuals with disabilities. This study evaluates the accessibility of 42 Tanzanian e-government websites using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 as a benchmark. Employing the SortSite tool to assess the first ten pages of each website, findings reveal an average of 3.64 pages per site contain accessibility errors, a standard deviation of 2.28 and an Interquartile Range of 1.25–5.0. The most common violations occurred at Level A, indicating fundamental accessibility issues such as missing link contexts and inadequate support for assistive technologies. Notably, some sites, like the National Identification Authority portal, achieved full compliance, while others, such as the NHIF service portal, exhibited widespread non-conformance. The study emphasizes that while Tanzania has made significant strides in e-government, including deploying over 500 websites and national digital services, accessibility remains a neglected dimension. Strengthening accessibility is not only a legal and ethical imperative but a strategic necessity for fostering digital inclusion. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on e-government usability in developing countries and provides practical recommendations for policymakers and developers to enhance accessibility standards.