THE IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION POLICIES ON SERVICE DELIVERY: A CASE OF KAMPALA CITY, UGANDA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS v

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the study I

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Objectives of the study 2

1.4 Research questions 3

1.5 Significanceofthestudy 3

1.6 Scope ofthe study 3

1.6.3 Time scope 4

CHAPTER TWO 5

2.0 Introduction 5

2.1 Decentralization Act 5

2.2 History of Decentralization system in Uganda 5

2.3 Effectiveness of decentralization towards social-economic development in Kampala. 6

2.4 Forms of social-economic development by decentralization in Kampala district as a

whole 8

2.5 Role played by government in empowering decentralization towards social-economic

development of Uganda 9

CHAPTER THREE 13

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3.0 Introduction .13

3.1 Research design 13

3.2 Sample and sampling procedure 13

3.3 Data collection procedure 13

3.4 Data quality control 13

3.5 Data analysis procedures 14

3.6 Limitations of the study 14

CHAPTER FOUR 15

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS 15

4.0 Introduction 15

4.1 Socio- Demographic 15

4.1.1 Age 15

4.1.2Sex 16

4.1.4 Educational background 16

4.2 Challenges to the implementation of decentralization policy 17

4.3 Finding on effects of Decentralization on service delivery in Kampala District 18

4.4 Relationship between decentralization and service delivery in Kampala District 20

CHAPTER FIVE 21

SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND

CONCLUSIONS 21

5.0 Introduction 21

5.1 Summary 21

5.1.1 Return percentage of questionnaires 21

5.1.2 Demographic characteristics 21

5.1.3 Challenges facing successful implementation of decentralization policy in Kampala

District 21

5.1.4 Finding on effects of Decentralization on service delivery in Kampala District 22

5.1.5 Findings on relationship between decentralization and service delivery in Kampala

District 22

5.2 Recommendations 22

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5.2.1 To the Government 22

5.2.2 To the local comment 23

5.2.3 To international community 24

5.2.4 To Civil Society Organization 24

5.2.5 To Local Government 25

5.2.6 General Recommendations 25

5.2.7 Areas for further researcher 25

5.3 Conclusions 26

REFERENCES 27

APPENDIX iii 29

QUESTIONNAIRES 29

APPENDIX I 32

BUDGET ESTIMATES 32

APPENDIX II 33

THE WORK PLAN 33

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter deals with the background to the study, problem statement and scope of the study,

purpose and objectives of the study, research questions and its significance.

Li Background of the study

Decentralized public management continues to invite controversy and debate. Proponents of

decentralization consider it a panacea for reforming public sector in developing countries (Shah,

1998) whereas opponents consider it as a road to wrecks and ruins (Tanzi, 1995).These

disagreements primarily arise from perspectives on the potential impact of such policies in the

institutional environment of developing countries. Regrettably, the literature provides little

guidance to inform this debate. This note is intended to fill a critical gap in this literature by

providing a synthesis of the empirical literature on the impact of decentralization. The paper

reviews the empirical literature on the impact of decentralizations and proyides a summary of the

conclusions on its impacts on socio-economic development..

The process of decentralization in Uganda traces back to the establishment of the Resistance

Council System in 1986 on-wards. In October 1992, the President launched the decentralization

programme. Since then, the policy of decentralization has been included in the new Ugandan

Constitution and in 1997; a Local Government Act was enacted. These two legal instruments have

dramatically changed the central government framework within which its local governments

operate. It is expected that districts, under decentralization will have more power, resources, more

responsibilities and more decision-making autonomy (Kullenberg; 2002). Also, their performance

will thus be increasingly important for growth, poverty eradication and long-term rural

development prospects. The term decentralization is commonly used to describe various

arrangements and there is a dispute amongst scholars as to whether it should be used to mean

deconcentration or devolution. Devolution refers to a form of political decentralization where a

local government has an established local assembly with usually elected members.

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