Assessment of the working of Local Government Information and Communication System (LOGICS) in Eastern Uganda: a case study of Jinja and Bugiri Districts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the working of the Local Government Information and Communication System (LOGICS) in Eastern Uganda, with Jinja and Bugiri districts as the case study. The objectives of the study were: to assess the level of awareness of LOGICS among the local government personnel in eastern Uganda, with Jinja and Bugiri districts; to determine the impact of LOGICS as adopted by Jinja and Bugiri districts; to establish the effectiveness of LOGICS as adopted by Jinja and Bugiri districts; to identify the challenges faced by LOGICS in Jinja and Bugiri districts; and lastly to propose solutions to the challenges faced by LOGICS.

The data collection methods included questionnaire and interview. The research instruments were questionnaire guide and interview guide. The study was both quantitative and qualitative.

The key findings of the study indicated that there is a good level of awareness of LOGICS by most workers under LG in Bugiri district and poor level of awareness of LOGICS by many workers under LG in Jinja district. In Bugiri district, LOGICS is mostly used in planning and budgeting whereas in Jinja district, it’s widely used in planning and preparation of reports and work plans. Information obtained from LOGICS in Bugiri district is complete, relevant and timely; on the other hand, information obtained from LOGICS in Jinja district is incomplete, relevant and untimely. LOGICS faces numerous challenges in LGs such as inadequate funding, poor ICT infrastructure, inadequate stationery, unreliable power supply, limited computer literacy on the part of the end-users, poor motivation of local government workers managing the system, multiplicity of information systems in LGs and failure to print some reports from LOGICS.

The main conclusion was that LOGICS is not effectively utilised in both Jinja and Bugiri districts.

The main recommendations of the study were: the MoLG should create a budget vote for LOGICS at the ministry level; there is need to build the ICT infrastructure in the LGs; LG staff should be trained and equipped with the relevant skills to work with LOGICS; and there is also need to improve on the quality of power supply at Bugiri district.