Policybrief: Redeem Policy Implementation in Uganda by Takling The Political Question
Policybrief: Redeem Policy Implementation in Uganda by Takling The Political Question
Policybrief: Redeem Policy Implementation in Uganda by Takling The Political Question
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For many poor countries, especially in Africa, decision-making and Multiple agencies and taskforces have been created in the name of
policy formulation appear to be the easier job. Moving from policy monitoring government programs, improving service delivery, fighting
making to policy execution and providing public goods and services is poverty and graft and ensuring accountability of public resources. The
the tougher task. Many African countries, including Uganda, have made cost implication of these institutional changes outweighs the benefits to
modest but significant advances in entrenching participatory politics, the nation e.g. Local media reports indicate that President Museveni has
election management and institutionalizing the power to make close to 100 advisers whose monthly wage bill amounts to about 3
decisions. However, there has been little progress in attaining billion in addition to other benefits and privileges like cars, armed
socioeconomic transformation and improving the material conditions of security personnel and office costs. The many posts, bodies and
the majority poor. Indeed some indicators of Uganda’ economy display agencies created seem to have created more inefficiency, avenues of
improvement, though, the improvements do not tally with the actual, influence peddling and bribe solicitation, more red tapes; and enabled
lived conditions of the wider Ugandan society. Many observers have theft. Despite the inefficiency in service delivery the people who work
lamented the poor record of policy implementation in a robust and in these agencies are paid their monthly salaries and allowances.
thorough manner as the key reason for the continued dire socioeconomic
conditions of Ugandans. Why has the modest progress in
institutionalizing decision-making power and producing excellent
policies not matched with the capacity to execute policies? What can be METHODOLOGY
done to redeem policy implementation? This policy brief attempts to
provide alternatives to this question.
These policy recommendations are based on a comprehensive review of
This Policy brief proposes the following policy options: the various documents relating to the political economy of Uganda and
the policy implementation practices worldwide. The policy
implementation in Uganda was compared to that of Ghana, Rwanda,
Ethiopia and thereafter lessons were drawn. The brief is also informed
by views and ideas developed during the public policy dialogue held on
17th March 2014 under the auspices of Uganda Development Policy
Management Forum-held at Uganda Management Institute.
The path of popular, participatory and ultimately patronage politics Rubongoya, J. B. (2007).
currently undertaken by Uganda will continue to yield little , New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
socioeconomic progress unless the country moves to a stage where
participation and performance can converge.
Tripp, A. M. (2010). ’
Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
READING LIST
Young, C. (2012).
Madison: The University of Wisconsin
Bayart, J. (2009). Press.
(Cambridge UK: Polity Press.