Decentralisation, community empowerment and livelihoods in Karamoja, Uganda

Abstract

This study examines the impact of decentralisation on political empowerment, livelihood improvement and coordination of development actors and programmes in Karamoja. It further explores the nexus between traditional governance and local government systems in Karamoja, as well as how politics affects the realisation of policy goals. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm, qualitative research approach, case study research design. The power relations theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The study findings show that whereas the traditional system of governance could help to link local communities with the modern local government system, the two systems are not blended to create a hybrid form of local government. Whereas government establishes an elaborate administrative set-up to facilitate coordination of development actors and programmes in local governments, the frameworks have however, not translated into effective coordination of development actors and programmes. On whether or not decentralisation leads to political empowerment, the findings of the current study show mixed results. Also, it was found that decentralisation policy reforms relatively improved the livelihoods of ordinary people in Karamoja and politics had mixed results on decentralisation policy reforms. Based on the study findings, I recommend that state-society power relations be transformed so as to give more power, authority and resources to the grassroots people. This can be achieved through integrating the popular traditional power structures with the local government system to sub-national units so that there is genuine local people’s participation rather than elite capture. In addition, the law should be strengthened to give local governments the clout to coordinate activities of all development actors in the district in order to reduce duplication and enhance performance.