6. Decentralization in Uganda: Towards Democratic Local Governance or Political Expediency?

Since the 1980s and 1990s, a number of developing countries in Africa and the former communist countries in Eastern Europe have embraced fundamental political, economic, administrative, and institutional reforms. In Eastern and Central Europe, winds of change signaled the end of the communist era, while in Sub-Saharan Africa, the calls for democracy and good governance became undeniable. This period also ushered in the realization that prior economic development efforts in the countries have been hampered by the national governments’ monopolization and centralization of administrative, economic, and political fiscal power. Although belatedly, many countries appreciated that radical changes and alterations were necessary in order to decentralize and devolve administrative, fiscal, and political authority to local governments. During the same period, international organizations and donor agencies too, notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), had a role in nudging these countries toward the reform path.