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Decentralization - an essential pillar of institutional reform - is of critical importance in developing countries, particularly in regard to democratization, effective development, and good governance. Uganda, since 1986 and the start of decentralization measures under Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement, has represented one of the most serious commitments in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the benefit of extensive fieldwork, Fumihiko Saito demonstrates how conflict resolution, information dissemination, and encouragement of the many and varied stakeholders to form partnerships are critical to successfully bringing services "closer to the people. Decentralization and Development Partnerships: Lessons from Uganda goes beyond theory to compare academic assumptions to the reality of decentralization implementation in modern Uganda. Although the process is by no means free of difficulties, Saito concludes that a "win-win" outcome is a real possibility.
List of contents
1 Introduction: Why Decentralization Matters?.- 2 Decentralization Debate: Democracy, Development and Collective Action.- 3 Evolution of Decentralization in Uganda: Opportunities, Perceptions and Constraints.- 4 Poverty, Empowerment and the Local Council: Views from the Grassroots.- 5 The Representation of the Disadvantaged: Women, Youth and Ethnic Minorities.- 6 Fiscal Decentralization: Re-centralization by Other Means?.- 7 Decentralized Primary Education: Potential of Community Contributions.- 8 Decentralization and Health Services: Challenge for Public Confidence.- 9 Conclusions: The Way Forward.- Appendix: Methodological Note.- References.
Summary
Decentralization - an essential pillar of institutional reform - is of critical importance in developing countries, particularly in regard to democratization, effective development, and good governance. Uganda, since 1986 and the start of decentralization measures under Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement, has represented one of the most serious commitments in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the benefit of extensive fieldwork, Fumihiko Saito demonstrates how conflict resolution, information dissemination, and encouragement of the many and varied stakeholders to form partnerships are critical to successfully bringing services "closer to the people. Decentralization and Development Partnerships: Lessons from Uganda goes beyond theory to compare academic assumptions to the reality of decentralization implementation in modern Uganda. Although the process is by no means free of difficulties, Saito concludes that a "win-win" outcome is a real possibility.
