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Overcoming the limits of institutional reform in Uganda

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  • Matt Andrews
  • Lawrence Bategeka

Abstract

This paper begins by noting that Uganda has been a public sector reform leader in Africa. It has pursued reforms actively and consistently for three decades now, and has produced many laws, processes and structures that are 'best in class' in Africa (and beyond). The problem is that many of the reforms have been limited to these kinds of gains – producing new institutional forms that function poorly and yield limited impacts. Various kinds of data showed – in various areas (civil service and public administration, public financial management, revenue management, procurement and anti-corruption) – that laws are often not being implemented, processes are being poorly executed, and there is insufficient follow-up to make sure that new mechanisms work as intended. The paper suggests that the government should re-frame its reform agenda to address these limitations and close the gaps between what Uganda's system looks like and how it functions. The proposed approach to doing reform in the future is called problem driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) and builds on past reform activity (rather than proposing an entirely new set of solutions). PDIA will require Ugandans to work together and own their reform processes more actively than ever, coming to terms with the problems they face and working iteratively – in broad groups – to find and fit local solutions to these problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Matt Andrews & Lawrence Bategeka, 2013. "Overcoming the limits of institutional reform in Uganda," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-027-13, GDI, The University of Manchester.
  • Handle: RePEc:bwp:bwppap:esid-027-13
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    File URL: http://www.effective-states.org/wp-content/uploads/working_papers/final-pdfs/esid_wp_27_andrews-bategeka.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ms. Maureen Kidd & William Joseph Crandall, 2006. "Revenue Authorities: Issues and Problems in Evaluating their Success," IMF Working Papers 2006/240, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Andrews,Matt, 2013. "The Limits of Institutional Reform in Development," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107016330, September.
    3. Odd-Helge Fjeldstad, 2006. "Corruption in Tax Administration: Lessons from Institutional Reforms in Uganda," Chapters, in: Susan Rose-Ackerman (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, chapter 17, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrews, Matt & Pritchett, Lant & Woolcock, Michael, 2017. "Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198747482.
    2. Saibu Olufemi Muibi, 2015. "Determining Optimal Crude Oil Price Benchmark in Nigeria: An Empirical Approach," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 18(58), pages 51-80, December.
    3. Mohsen Abumuamar & Adrian Campbell, 2024. "Outsider-driven institutional entrepreneurship: the case of the emerging field of positive psychology education," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 107-134, March.
    4. Matt Andrews, 2018. "Overcoming the limits of institutional reform in Uganda," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S1), pages 159-182, March.
    5. Thorvaldur Gylfason & Jean-Pascal Nguessa Nganou, 2014. "Diversification, Dutch Disease, and Economic Growth: Options for Uganda," CESifo Working Paper Series 5095, CESifo.

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