Decentralisation is trendy.
Enthusiasts in donor agencies and academia see political legitimacy, democratisation, economic efficiency, lean government and poverty reduction as likely consequences of a decentralised government. A paper from Ryukoku University, Japan explores this question in Uganda, a nation with fourteen years of deep commitment to decentralisation. Significant resources have been transferred to local government. Indeed, local health and education initiatives attest to the beginnings of a productive relationship between NGOs, the local business community and LCs. Conflict resolution is now in LC hands.