Organisational Conflicts and Employee Performance in Local Governments in Busoga Region in Eastern Uganda

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between organizational conflicts and employee performance in selected local governments in Busoga. The objectives of the study were ; (i) to establish the effects of task conflicts on employee performance in local governments in Busoga, (ii) to establish the effects of interpersonal conflicts on employee performance in local governments in Busoga, and (iii) to establish the effects of procedural conflicts on employee performance in local governments in Busoga. The study employed a descriptive correlation design. Relevant data was collected using a survey research. The questionnaires were the research instruments used to collect the required data. Data were analyzed at univariate level using frequency counts and summary statistics and Pearson Linear Correlation coefficient at bi-variate level. The study revealed that task conflict and employee performance had a weak positive significant correlation (with r=0.336; p=0.000), interpersonal conflict and employee performance had a strong positive correlation (with r=0.649; p=0.000) and procedural conflict and employee performance had a strong positive correlation (with r=0.667; p=0.000). The following were the recommendations from the study, (i) Good Communication strategies should be used to resolve conflicts in local governments, (ii) The political leadership and HODs of departments should be trained in counseling and guidance skills to solve conflicts, and (iii) There should be clear tasks definition to avoid overlapping of duties amongst employees.