Institutional Ownership and Corporate Sustainability Disclosure among Listed Firms in East Africa Community Partner States

This paper empirically analyzes the effect of institutional ownership on corporate sustainability disclosures (CSD) among listed firms in East Africa Partner States. The study examines a balanced panel of 708 firm-year observations from 59 listed firms over the period 2012–2023. Employing fixed-effects panel regression analysis, the study assesses the impact of institutional ownership alongside firm-specific characteristics on sustainability disclosure practices. The regression results reveal a statistically significant positive association between institutional ownership and the level of corporate sustainability disclosures. The findings provide new evidence that institutional investors play a critical role in shaping sustainability reporting practices among firms in East Africa. Policymakers and regulators may consider strengthening guidelines to encourage greater institutional investor participation and oversight, thereby enhancing transparency and ESG disclosures. For corporate leaders, the results underscore the importance of fostering strong relationships with institutional investors to meet rising stakeholder demands for sustainability information, which may in turn enhance firm reputation, stakeholder trust, and access to capital.