| dc.description.abstract | Various internal and external factors drive decisions to undertake restructuring in ministries,
organizations, or agencies. The purpose of this study was to determine the drivers, processes, and
coping mechanisms for the institutional 2018 restructuring of the Ministry of Health in Uganda.
This was a qualitative case study design that involved an in-depth probe and application of
subjectively interpreted data among 18 respondents that included top managers, Middle managers,
and lower ranking officers from the Ministry of public service, Ministry of Health and Health
Service commission. Data was collected using both the in-depth interview guide and key informant
interview guide and was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicate that the
drivers for the 2018 MoH institutional restructuring were to improve service delivery, reduce the
workload, define clear roles and responsibilities, and upgrade the organizational profile. Further,
it was intended to properly position divisions, create new directorates to address critical public
health issues at a high level, and to create more visibility to attract more resources. The processes
included MoH communicating the need for restructuring to MoPS that did a needs assessment and
realigned the structure, which was shared with MoH top and senior top management for their input.
The realigned structure was presented to the cabinet for approval and later shared with MoPS,
MoH, and HSC for recruitment of staff and implementation. However, findings reveal an
underlying challenge with the way employees were engaged and prepared for the changes with
some expressing extreme discontent with the way they were treated. The study concludes that the
drivers mentioned by the study respondents were valid and justified. The re-alignment of
departments, divisions, and units within the Ministry of Health was long overdue because most
divisions and units were suffocated within existing old departments in the old structure. Besides,
the study further concludes that the restructuring in the Ministry of Health to large extent has
yielded benefits to the health sector because some divisions that were hitherto obscured within the
old departments got visibility. The study recommends that government should always take time to
prepare adequately for the restructuring of ministries or departments, the 2018 exercise was
hurried, that’s why members were not reached out during consultations. Furthermore, the laid-off
staff should always be counseled and prepared well for life after being a government employee.
Department of Human resources should prepare workshops and counseling sessions with the
proposed members some months before they are laid off | en_US |
