Moreover, since independence, several countries have experimented with decentralization with varying degrees of success. It is an outcome of a comprehensive study of how the decentralisation policy was implemented. Decentralisation is central to ugandas mode of governance as spelt out in the 1995 constitution and the 1997 local governments act confers. Decentralization and rural service delivery in uganda. Fiscal decentralisation overseas development institute. The central question with respect to political decentralization is who decides bird 2000, p. The decentralisation policy in uganda aimed at improving local democracy, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability in the delivery of essential services country. The possibilities can form a critical basis for making decentralization as a positivesum solution for uganda rather than a zerosum one as was the case before. Lc structure will bear important functions and responsibilities in order. The post independence constitution of uganda, laid a legal framework for redecentralization based on regional. Decentralisation can be viewed as an extension of delegation. It seeks to appraise the practice in terms of achievements and challenges in the legal, policy, and institutional framework.
Even when it is not explicit, improving service delivery is an implicit motivation behind most of these decentralization efforts. Thecontradictionsof ugandasdecentralizationprogram paulfrancisandrobertjames universityofeastanglia,norwich,uk. Decentralization and development in contemporary uganda core. Decentralization reform refers to transforming the local institutional infrastructure for natural resource management on which local forest management is based ribot. Decentralization or decentralisation see spelling differences is the process by which the activities of an organization, particularly those regarding planning and decision making, are distributed or delegated away from a central, authoritative location or group.
The rationale and characteristics of ugandas decentralization. Uganda introduced the decentralization policy in 1997 under the local government act of 1997 that has since undergone. Post independence era problems that developed as a result of this dual central and local administration included encroachment on. This guide is just one of a program of measures to improve the policy development capacity of the ugandan public service. Decentralisation and rural service delivery in uganda. Uniqueness of uganda s policy reform unlike most of the other subsaharan african countries, uganda is a unique case at least in three viewpoints. Decentralization and development in contemporary uganda elliott green1 forthcoming in regional and federal studies 1.
The objective of this introductory chapter is to explain the importance of agricultural services, the role that governments had assumed in their provision and the perceived need in the 1980s for institutional reform including a reduced role for central government in service provision. It is intended primarily for policymakers, in this case meaning civil servants and their. This report examines the inception and implementation of the decentralisation policy in uganda and proposes somes reforms. There has been little discussion, however, about two key aspects of decentralization. This chapter examines the historical background of uganda in order to clarify the context in which decentralization measures are currently. Aug 12, 2019 this report examines the inception and implementation of the decentralisation policy in uganda and proposes somes reforms.
Political decentralization aims to give citizens or their elected representatives more power in public decisionmaking. Regional governments mainly in the form of monarchies and chiefdoms were abolished in 1966, four years after independence mushemeza, 2003. The views expressed in this working paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the imf or imf policy. The rationale for decentralization in uganda was political and the main consideration leading to the decentralization that is being implemented was the need to restore democracy and return power to the people. A number of countries have just started the process and are presently creating new units andor transferring. Decentralisation and conflict in uganda lse research online. Decentralization and development in contemporary uganda. Explaining variation across local governments in uganda by bruno onzima a thesis submitted to the department of administration and organization theory, university of bergen in partial fulfilment for the award of the master of philosophy in public administration. Physical and social conditions in africa favours it as a pragmatic response to the problems of government. Uganda introduced the decentralization policy in 1997 under the local government act of 1997 that has since undergone four amendments.
Gina lambright finds answers to this question in her investigation of the factors that contribute to good and ineffective performance at the district level in uganda. The article contends that the effectiveness of decentralization reforms should not be judged on the basis of the formallegal structure and rhetoric being showcased in uganda, or by other. Decentralization resulting difficulties in a coherent implementation in hq across clusters and in rosrds due to their constitutional status has wide freedom of action and it is a potential challenge consistent implementation across the organizationtools to handle the challenges. It will be complemented by other steps, including policy development workshops and by more training in policy development. Decentralisation and conflict in uganda cover sheet. Download book pdf decentralization and development partnership pp 4976 cite as. Decentralisation refers to tire systematic effort to delegate. Fiscal decentralisation in uganda draft strategy paper 204 5 1 introduction 1. In 1893 the imperial british east africa company transferred its administration rights of territory consisting mainly of buganda kingdom to the british government.
Political, administrative, fiscal and market decentralization can also appear in different forms and combinations across countries, within countries and even within sectors. Uniqueness of ugandas policy reform unlike most of the other subsaharan african countries, uganda is a unique case at least in three viewpoints. Although ghana has been committed to decentralization since the passing of the 1993 local governance act, it typically has practiced deconcentrationi. Decentralisation extends to the lowest level of the organisation. The process differs from the efforts of the 1960s and 1970s in that this time governments seem ready to cede real power to the lower local government levels.
For instance, in the case of uganda, decentralization has been salient. Post independence era problems that developed as a result of this dual central and local administration included encroachment on the rights and responsibilities of the weaker local. With the german government having evaluated its own decentralization projects in countries. Effectiveness of decentralization in ghana their obligations and attract able and competent officers ministry of local government. Introduction decentralization has long been seen as a major policy tool for helping to improve governance and the provision of public goods in the developing world. Meaning, advantages and disadvantages of decentralisation. Decentralization is the means to allow for the participation of people and local governments morell. Decentralization in zimbabwes forest sector has been varied depending on the tenurial status of the land on which the woodlands are found. This working paper should not be reported as representing the views of the imf. An overview of decentralization in uganda, 1986present 2. Decentralization and local development in uganda july,2014 11 the colonial era uganda was a protectorate of the british empire from 1894 to 1962. Uganda is one of only a handful of countries in subsaharan africa, which have taken part in the new wave of decentralization. A survey carried out in 43 forests located in eastern, central and western uganda show unregulated harvesting pattern and use of forest products.
I argue here that uganda s decentralisation programme, while helping to reduce nationallevel conflict, has nonetheless replaced it with locallevel conflict. Decentralization or decentralisation see spelling differences is the process by which the activities of an organization, particularly those regarding planning and decision making, are distributed or delegated away from a central, authoritative location or group concepts of decentralization have been applied to group dynamics and management science in private businesses and organizations. First, these basic services, such as health, education. The post independence constitution of uganda, laid a legal framework for re decentralization based on regional. The goal of po litical decentralisation was to promote peoples participation. Summary why do some african local governments perform well, while others fail to deliver even the most basic services. Therefore, decentralization as such does not lead to improved governance. The postindependent history of uganda since 1962 reveals longlasting civil strife, decaying state institutions and economic bankruptcy. When a part of the work is entrusted to others, it is known as delegation.
Experiences of uganda, rwanda, and south africa, johnmary kauzya the mere fact of opting for decentralization shall not by itself ensure that the population effectively participates in its development which is the ultimate goal of a good policy of decentralization and good governance. It seeks to appraise the practice in terms of achievements and challenges in the le. Ethiopia, south africa and uganda are proceeding fast. In protected forest zones, collaborative resource management regimes have only recently been introduced. The undp role in decentralization and local governance vi foreword undp and the german federal ministry for economic cooperation and development bmz collaborated on a critical assessment of undp support to decentralization and local governance. Decentralization is a complex phenomenon involving many geographic entities, societal actors and social sectors.
It imposes unrealistic implementation responsibilities and costs on the lower levels of. This paper explores the extent to which decentralization following the enactment of the decentralization statute of 1987 has transferred control over forestry resources to local institutions in uganda. Decentralization has been applied on a large scale since the 1980s as an effective strategy in the field of administrative development amid democracy expansion, especially at the local levels of governance. There turns out to be little support for the relevance of these hypotheses to uganda. Brief history of decentralized local governance in uganda. The evolution of decentralization in uganda, 1986present. This chapter examines the historical background of uganda in order to clarify the context in which decentralization measures are currently implemented. Collaborative resource management is a variant of decentralization in.
Initially lauded by ugandans and the international community alike in the 1990s, ugandas decentralization reforms have largely failed to bring deliveryof public services up to an acceptable standard. Exploring decentralization in uganda on april 6, 2001, the officials in the district council in kasese district in western uganda unanimously agreed to suspend the chief administrative officer cao over allegations of financial mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. Even with the most efficient decentralization process, the level of service provision will remain very low for a number of years. Ugandas decentralization policy was introduced by the government in 1992 in order to enable citizens to have more voice in determining and managing their affairs democratic governance and to improve on the provision of services social and economic welfare. Nsibambi a ed decentralization and civil society in uganda.
In the last decade or so, decentralization has gained prominence as an expressed goal or as an actual pursuit in several african countries. The policy inherently decentralized service delivery institutions and their governance in order to improve access to services for the rural poor. Decentralization and rural service delivery in uganda ifpri. Decentralization is transforming the structure of governance in africa. Since the middle of the l980s most african countries have started a transfer of power, resources and. The near universality of the claim to decentralization and the diverse consequences of the revival of local government structures under. For further information, the interested reader should consult villadsen and lubanga 1996, nsibambi 1998, obwona et al.
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