Social Sciences

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2016 General Elections: Vote 4 Education, Vote 4 Health
(2015) Nabwowe, Angella; Mncwabe, Nokukhanya
70 Year old Zaina Bakanansa, resident of Kyetume-Bukasa village, Nakisunga Sub- County Mukono District believes elections are just a waste of time. “ No Member of Parliament or Local Council Chairperson has made a difference in my life”, she says. Bakanansa’s need is to have a health facility in her village “ I am weak and sickly and unfortunately I cannot access a health facility. The private clinic close to my house is too expensive for me”. The Mukono Health centre IV or Nazigo health centre III which are public health facilities are quite a distance from her house, several kilometres away. Her only hope would be in voting leaders with a manifesto that addresses her concerns but she has been disappointed many times. “I have participated in national elections but I don’t see the benefits. When I have health needs , I call on a Non- Governmental Organisation to get help and they are always responsive.” The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda gives citizens like Zaina Bakanansa power, to elect the political leaders of the country every after five years. Very soon, Ugandans shall elect political leaders – from the local level to the President.
2021 General Elections: Voting for Quality Service Delivery
(Economic and Social Rights Advocacy (ESRA), 2020) Namusobya, Salima; Nabwowe Kasule, Angella; Mncwabe, Nokukhanya
The focus of this 12th issue of the Economic and Social Rights Advocacy (ESRA) Brief, produced by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), has as its theme: 2021 General Elections: Voting for Quality Service Delivery. The publication of this ESRA Brief is timely, given that the current term of office for Uganda’s elected leaders expires on the 12th of May 2021. As has become customary, those contesting for different offices/positions will, over the next few months, be laser-focused on ensuring that they campaign successfully and get elected at the next polls scheduled from 10th January to 8th February 2021.1 This edition implicitly asks Ugandans to refrain from getting caught up in the frenetic energy of political campaigning and to critically assess the extent to which incumbent politicians and parties have delivered on the promises made in previous manifestos; whether and to what extent they have been held accountable for failing to deliver on their mandates; it asks citizens to consider the ways in which they may be complicit in entrenching an electoral system that prioritizes short-term patronage over long-term service delivery; and the electoral system itself is critiqued, in the light of the constraints Uganda faces within a global political and economic order, which has budgetary and policy implications for its ability to practically achieve the economic and social rights to which its citizens are entitled.
Absenteeism: Key Driver of Poor Performance in Primary Education
(UNICEF, 2016) UNICEF
With the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997, Government committed to provide free education to all children of primary school going age. Through the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Uganda further committed to ensure delivery of a full course of primary education to all children by 2015. According to the MDG 2015 report, notable gains attributed to UPE include increased enrollment, a general upsurge in primary school completion, and the elimination of gender disparities between girls’ and boys’ completion rates. Achievements notwithstanding, the efficiency of Uganda’s primary education is low - survival rate to P7 stands at 32.1%, repetition at 10.2% (EMIS, 2014), and teacher absenteeism is estimated at 20-30% (NPA, 2015).
Absorption and Implementation Constraint to Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP)
(Economic Plicy Research Centre, 2017) Lakuma, Corti Paul; Lwanga, Musa Mayanja
Budget execution remains a challenge in Uganda. Weak budget disbursements, back-loaded spending procurement delay, inflexibility in budget execution and fiscal incapacity at local government level highlight ongoing challenges and raise a particular concern over the absorptive capacity and quality of budget implementation. To accelerate budget execution in Uganda, this policy brief suggest policy options that will lead to minimization of budget volatility, improvement in budget institutions, delegation and control, transparency and improving the capacity of local government
Accelerating Progress towards Achieving Productive Youth Employment and Decent Work
(Institute of Development Studies, 2017) Corbett, Hannah; Kilimani, Nicholas
Realising full, productive employment and decent work for all features prominently among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In many developing countries, especially in Africa and South Asia, youth constitute nearly a third of the population. Current projections suggest that a billion more young people will enter the job market over the next decade. Hence, issues of youth employment have risen up the political agenda at both international and national levels. Avenues for youth employment creation on a substantial scale must be sought as a matter of urgency. This will involve a re-evaluation of the different issues around labour demand and supply, in addition to rethinking how young people’s entrepreneurial spirit can be harnessed.
Access to education by children with special needs: What are the issues?
(Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit, 2019) Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 calls for “inclusive and quality education for all”. This is in line with Article 30 and 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995) which states that education for all children is a right. Uganda has enacted several disability-friendly laws, which include the: National Council on Disability Act 2003 (with additional amendments 2013); 2006 Disability Act; 2006 Equal Opportunities Commission Act 2006; 1997 Local Government Act, and the 1996 Children’s Statute 1996 (with amendments in 2016). A number of policies and policy guidelines such as the National Policy on Disability in Uganda (2006) also support interventions for persons with disabilities. An Information Paper from UNESCO (2018) however reveals that persons with disability are among the population groups most likely to suffer from exclusion from education. The policy brief explores the challenges constraining access to education by children with Special Needs (SN), and highlights good practices. The brief uses primary data collected by the Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit, secondary data, and proposes policy recommendations for improvement.
Accountability In Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
(Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), 2017) Namusobya, Salima; Nabwowe, Angella; Nakulima, Saphina; Mugoya, Musa
In the discussions about Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for provision of key social services, the justification, in both support for and opposition to the concept revolves mainly around accountability and risk management to ensure value for money. The essential question is whether the presumed efficiencies of the private sector are strong enough to override the concerns about social, democratic and financial accountability from private sector players. Consequently, most guidelines for best practices in framing and implementing PPPs place the need for strong institutional responsibilities and public participation in the governance high up on the priority list. The emphasis is that PPP arrangements should only be pursued when they represent the best value for money in delivering a service and not as ways to circumvent fiscal constraints.1 This also implies that accountability for any PPP project begins with the design, which should capture the various forms of safeguards to guarantee social justice and financial risk management.
Achieving Middle Income Status: What needs to be done
(National Planning Authority, 2018) National Planning Authority
Uganda aspires to attain a per capita income of USD 1,039 by 2020 as spelt out in the Second National Development Plan (NDPII). To achieve the middle-income target Uganda should sustain an average growth of above 10 percent in the remaining two and a half year period of NDPII. The reality is that this growth target cannot be achieved without a comprehensive economic transformation. As such, based on current trends the middle-income target cannot be achieved by 2020. Nevertheless, there are low hanging fruits that are within our national reach which if implemented efficiently, will fast track Uganda’s progress towards middle income status. This brief provides key highlights on technical guidance and policy direction on the attainment of middle income status as elaborated in NDPII. However, instead of providing the broad strategic direction already in NDPII, this brief unpacks the NDPII to provide micro/firm level low hanging implementable interventions for fast tracking progress to middle income target.
Addressing Youth Unemployment in Uganda: The Inevitable Advice of the 21st Century
(Gateway Research Centre, 2020) Ssembajjwe, Ben
The issues raised in this policy brief provide a body of recommendations to policy makers including: the central government, local governments, curriculum developers, educationalists, and other policy implementers. It also highlights a clear vision on how the rampant youth unemployment in Uganda can be reduced. The aim is to improve the general welfare of the youths and their contribution towards Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Adequacy and effectiveness of Uganda’s gambling regulatory framework
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2016) Ahaibwe, Gemma; Lakuma, Corti Paul; Katunze, Miriam; Mawejje, Joseph
In light of the likely negative impacts of gambling, the industry needs to be strictly controlled, well regulated and effectively policed. Presently, the gambling industry is regulated by the National Lotteries Board (NLB) and is guided by the National Lotteries Act of 1967, the Gaming and Pool Betting (Control and Taxation) Act of 1968, and an addendum of statutory guidelines introduced in 2012/13. Findings from the desk review and key informant interviews reveal that many facets of the laws relating to lottery and gaming have become obsolete and are not sensitive to the new modes of gambling and the unprecedented growth of the industry. Furthermore, the National Lotteries Board (NLB) has substantial capacity problems and limited statutory powers and is not always able to effectively exercise its mandate herein inhibiting its ability to comprehensively regulate the gambling industry.
The Africa we want An Africa Women’s Position Statement on the Post 2015 Development Agenda
(Uganda Women’s Network, 2015) Uganda Women’s Network
As the discourse on the post 2015 agenda across the globe grows, representatives from women’s rights organizations, faith based, wider civil society organizations and media from over 14 African countries convened from the 23rd–25th June 2014 to deliberate on strengthening African women’s voices in the post 2015 processes. Building from her earlier district, regional and national level dialogues and gender forums, UWONET gladly participated and informed the Africa Women’s meeting in Kampala from which now this Africa position statement is developed.
All you need to know about ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 on Violence and Harassment in the world of work.
(Akina Mama wa Afrika, 2019) Akina Mama wa Afrika
Violence and harassment at work is a human rights issue. It affects workplace place relations, worker engagement, health productivity, quality of public and private services, and enterprise reputation. It affects labour market participation and in particular, may prevent women from entering the labour market, especially in male-dominated sectors and jobs, and remain therein.1 Before the adoption of this momentous Convention, there was no universally accepted definition of the terms “harassment” or “violence” in the world of work. The Convention signifies an extraordinary opportunity to advance the fight against gender-based violence.
An analysis of Uganda’s tax system: Is it fair?
(Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, 2019) Fair Tax Monitor
Over the last three decades, Uganda’s main tax objective has been to mobilize domestic revenue as a way of providing essential public services and reducing foreign aid dependence. However the challenge facing Uganda is how to equitably and sustainably mobilize resources in order to provide social services, infrastructure and for reinvestment. Currently, there are efforts by government to increase domestic revenue through taxation.
An analysis on the link between Public Debt and Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM) within the EAC
(SEATINIUganda, 2021) SEATINIUganda
Countries in the East African Community (EAC) have continued to witness an escalating debt situation that has now been worsened by the COVID-19 driven crisis. Even before the pandemic, EAC countries had already accumulated public debts to a tune of 110 Billion USD1. As a result, of the shrinking domestic revenues arising from low economic activity, these countries have now resorted to borrowing as the only available alternative to finance their budgets. As a consequence, the region’s public debt has now soared to 120 billion with individual country debt levels already threatening to breach the agreed upon thresholds of 50 percent of respective country GDPs. It remains key to note that the rising public debt remains a key threat to the region’s Domestic Revenue Mobilization efforts and consequent fiscal sustainability.
Are the Public Financial Management E-Systems Performing?
(Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit, 2019) Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit
Public Financial Management (PFM) refers to the rules, regulations, tools, institutions, and instruments government uses to manage public resources. Well-designed PFM institutions support economic policy objectives, lead to inclusive growth and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, good PFM eliminates wastage in allocation of resources, increases ability to mobilize resources and achieves greater impact on service delivery (www.IMF.org/moocs ). The Government of Uganda (GoU) has demonstrated commitment towards E-Government, through investments in the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Strides are being undertaken to ensure connectivity for all through the national backbone transmission infrastructure, which seeks to connect the entire country to an optical fiber cable. Funding through the budget is extended to the MDAs and Local Governments (LGs) to develop E-Systems to enhance public financial management and efficient service delivery. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, and NITA-U, government continues to make effort to improve service delivery through E-Government. The institutions under the Accountability Sector have developed a raft of E-Systems to drive PFM in Uganda. This policy brief discusses the performance and effects of five E- systems under the Accountability Sector, namely: Programme Based Budgeting System (PBS), Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), E-Tax System, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and E-Government Procurement (E-GP).
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.
Assessment of the Coherence between Uganda’s Tax Laws and Policies and the EAC Common Market Protocol
(Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, 2014) Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda
The East African Community (EAC) identified and prioritized the harmonization of taxation regimes of the Partner States as a way of fostering its goal towards the implementation of the Common Market Protocol. This is on the backdrop that EAC countries have some huge differences in their tax systems including the definitions of their tax bases. These differences invariably confer unfair tax competition and unequal treatment of tax payers, goods and services in the region, which if not addressed distort the effective functioning of the Common Market. Harmonization of tax policies and domestic tax laws is, therefore, an important aspect of macroeconomic convergence that is also one of the benchmarks to be attained for effective functioning of the Common Market thereby facilitating intra-regional trade and investment.
Bank-level Analysis of the Determinants of Lending Rate Stickiness in Uganda
(The African Economic Research Consortium, 2020) Nampewo, Dorothy
This study determines the existence and drivers of the asymmetrical response of lending rates to policy rate changes in Uganda’s banking sector. Uganda’s banking system seems to be faced with sticky adjustments of lending rates following changes in policy rates. Whereas interbank money-market rates have tended to track the evolution of the policy rate, bank lending rates have been stickier, only responding partially to changes in the policy rate, with lags. These lag periods appear to be longer when the policy rate is reduced than when it is raised, which has created challenges for monetary policy implementation. The analysis is based on bank-level data covering 17 commercial banks for the period 2009–2017.
Beyond Statistics: How can we achieve universal basic education of acceptable quality in Uganda?
(2014) Nabwowe, Angella; Mncwabe, Nokukhanya
The Right to Education is guaranteed under article 30 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; the country is, moreover party to International Conventions that guarantee this right, including the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). Uganda has been praised for introducing free Universal Primary Education (UPE), and the scheme has indeed registered some successes over the years – including an increase in school enrolment rates countrywide, with girls and children from poor families benefiting in particular. Notwithstanding these successes, however, basic primary education is not without its challenges, which have the potential to undermine the quality of education offered and to erode the gains attained if remedial action is not prioritized. The deteriorating quality of education has been documented in several studies, such as UWEZO (2014), and the Ministry of Education and Sports, together with the Stromme Foundation, Save the Children, UNICEF, and UNHCR (2014).
Bolster Trade Policy Through Business De-regulation And Economic Policy Reforms
(UMI, 2013) Uganda Developent Management Policy Forum
Uganda has substantial trading potential and opportunities in her domestic, regional and international markets. However, most traders in Uganda, especially the indigenous small and medium scale entrepreneurs, operate under such a heavily regulated and highly liberalized economy that they find it difficult to cope with global competitors and realize sustainable growth. The cost of trading (doing business) in Uganda is relatively very high mainly due to unfavorable policies and regulations. Hence, there is crucial need for considered regulatory and policy reforms aimed at bolstering the competitiveness and suitability for Uganda’s investment climate so as to realize sustainable trade development. This policy brief, thus, highlights some recommendable deregulation and reforms for improving the trade policy.

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