The Value of Participatory Democracy in Uganda

Abstract:     
This paper discusses the value of participatory democracy using Uganda's decentralization and local governance structures as a case study. Participatory democracy is a method of local or national political organization which enables people at the grassroots to contribute to decision making in matters relating to their personal lives. It is different from representative democracy whereby citizens simply vote for representatives to think and decide for them at whatever level.

Uganda navigated into uncharted waters by ambitiously embarking on the decentralization path in accordance with the 1995 constitution whereby authority and responsibility to plan, budget, and deliver services were devolved to districts and their sub-units. The 1997 Local Government Act is the centerpiece of this ongoing process of decentralization.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 5

Keywords: participatory democracy, nrm, uganda, local council, district, decentralization

JEL Classification: H7, H71, H72, H73, H74, H77, H79

working papers series