Decentralisation can foster regional identity and encourage secessionism and there is potential for the system to revive conflict within the kind of multi-ethnic society that is Uganda. And as long as information is disseminated from the top, there are opportunities for those in power to manipulate and monopolise. Continued central control of security and police is against the ethos of decentralisation. Public services costs are not necessarily reduced. The long-term consequences of central insistence on making policy may erode the support base of the LC system.
External support is useless without national ownership of decentralisation.
Uganda is at a critical crossroads. All rights reserved.