Browsing by Author "Mbabazi, Jonas"

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    Assessing Capacities for Local Economic Development in Uganda
    (ACODE, 2020) Kavuma, Susan; Tibamwenda, Assumpta; Mushemeza, Elijah; Bogere, George; Tamale, Lillian; Semakula, Eugene; Mbabazi, Jonas
    he study sought to address four objectives: (i) analyzing the perspectives of actors at the district and Central Government level on the concept of local economic development; (ii) identifying LED initiatives implemented by districts; (iii) assessing the economic potential of districts, and (iv) evaluating the inclusiveness of LED initiatives. First, the report gives an extensive background to the pursuit of LED in Uganda, including the preliminary steps taken in conceptualizing LED and developing the National LED Policy. It further unravels the perspectives of the actors at the district levels including local government leaders, the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), citizen groups and others on LED. It also makes an assessment of the implication of the LED policy on local economic development in the districts covered. From the viewpoints of the stakeholders, the report documents the district goals, targets, and strategies related to economic growth and empowerment existing in the LED interventions, challenges, and solutions commandeered. Second, is the identification of local economic potentials and business opportunities in any district for competitive advantages in economic productivity and resource generation. Factors identified included market access, economic density, urbanization, skills, and local transport connectivity; natural heritage, resource endowments such as, land area, population, natural resources, access to water, and access to electricity. Third, inclusive development is articulated as part of the processes and activities concerned with ensuring that all often marginalized and usually excluded groups such as women, persons with disabilities, youth and refugees are involved in the development processes. This inclusiveness ensures that these groups of people possess economic potential in their unique attributes such as artisan skills. The differential roles of refugees and the host communities in LED communities are also analyzed in this study.
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    Creation of New Cities in Uganda: Social Economic and Political Implications
    (Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment ACODE, 2020) Mbabazi, Jonas; Atukunda, Phoebe
    Urbanization is a global trend and has largely been a positive force for economic growth, poverty reduction and human development. Urbanization is understood as a population shift from rural to urban areas, it is the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas and the ways in which each society adapts to the change. It is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in urban areas (GoU, 2017). The National Library of Medicine defines urbanization as” the population shift from rural areas to urban areas, the decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and how each society adapts to this change”2. Urbanization is also looked at as a process by which towns and cities are formed. Cities are important drivers of development and poverty reduction in both urban and rural areas because they are places where entrepreneurship, technological innovation and other economic activity can flourish (United Nations, 2014).
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    Local Government Councils’ Performance and Public Service Delivery in Uganda
    (Children, 2013) Mbabazi, Jonas; Akena, Patrick; Aryemo, Betty
    Lira District Local Government comprised 13 subcounties and one municipality. The district was headed by Hon. Orema Alex Alot working with 26 elected councilors, including the district speaker. The technical wing was headed by Mr. Benon Rwanguha as Chief Administrative Officer. Lira District was one of the districts ravaged by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in northern Uganda, which resulted into the displacement of a large part of the district’s population. Lira District had a population of 290,600, with an annual population growth rate of 3.6 per cent. The largest proportion of the district’s population is under 18 years. The district’s main economic activity was agriculture employing 81 per cent of the population with the commercial and industrial sectors dominated by informal micro and small enterprises accounting for the rest of the population.
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    Strengthening the Local Government System to Improve Public Service Delivery, Accountability and Governance
    (ACODE, 2012) Tumushabe, Godber; Ssemakula, Eugene Gerald; Mbabazi, Jonas
    The Uganda Local Government Councils Score Card is a tool that assesses the performance of elected leaders at the district level. Since its launching in 2009, three assessments have been conducted including the current one for the financial year 2011/2012. The current score card is unique in one particular respect. It covers the first year in office for the officials who were elected in 2011 for a five year term of office. The score card can therefore be used by the leaders to benchmark how they are delivering in their mandate to improve public service delivery, promote accountability and strengthen the foundation for good governance. The 2011/12 score card report builds on the previous reports for the financial year 2008/09 and 2009/10. Those reports highlighted the challenges facing local government councils and councilors across the districts that were covered by the assessment. The number of districts covered by the current assessment was increased from the previous 20 to 26. However, the same challenges remain in spite of the many positive developments that have been put in place by Government. Most importantly, service delivery has considerably deteriorated and there is no visible improvement particularly at specific service delivery units. Cases of overcrowded classrooms, children studying under trees, health centers with no Health personnel staff or functioning ambulances and many others are apparent from the fieldwork.