This document summarizes a presentation given by Dr. Arthur Bainomugisha on community-engaged research and the Local Government Councils Score Card Initiative (LGCSCI) in Uganda. It provides background on ACODE, the think tank that developed the LGCSCI to address deficiencies in Uganda's decentralization. The LGCSCI assesses local government councils and leaders to increase accountability. It is based on the theory that by monitoring performance and sharing information with citizens, they will demand more accountability from local leaders, triggering improved service delivery and governance. The methodology involves developing scorecards, conducting research, and disseminating results. Achievements to date include improved council debates, increased civic awareness and demand for the initiative,

1. February 18 – 20, 2015, Istanbul, Turkey
Dr. Arthur Bainomugisha
Executive Director –ACODE & Lecturer Makerere
University
COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH

2. Structure of presentation
 What is ACODE?
 Background to Local Government Councils Score Card
Initiative;
 Policy Problem;
 Theory of Change/Intervention;
 The assessment and who is assessed;
 Lessons learnt and Conclusion.

3. About ACODE
• Established in 1999, ACODE is an independent public
policy research and advocacy think tank based in Uganda
but working in East Africa with operations in Southern
Africa.
• Through policy research, ACODE assists regional
Governments and international development agencies
expand the range of policy choices for development and
governance.

4. The Local Government Councils Score Card
Initiative (LGCSCI)
“People want a form of government that is fully democratic and all
embracing in terms of participation and benefit. It should be
one where the leaders put the interests of the people above their
own. Such a form should make leaders at every level fully
accountable to the people who elect them”
Report of the Uganda Constitutional Commission, 1992
LGSCI AND DECENTRALIZATION DEFICIT IN UGANDA

5. Milestones in Decentralization

6. WHAT IS THE POLICY PROBLEM?
 The rationale of decentralization is to improve the
delivery of public goods and services and deepen
democratization by:
Empowering local governments to engage in localized
planning and programme implementation
 Creating citizens’ control of government to enhance
accountability through the democratic process

7. WHAT IS THE POLICY PROBLEM?
 While there has been some progress in some areas, the outcomes of
the decentralization policy have been mixed
 Education enrollment has increased but education quality and
performance remain depressing
 The PHC infrastructure has expanded but the quality of health care
remains dismal
 While the roads budget has expanded tremendously, the road
infrastructure has become a nightmare for road users
 The ENR sector is facing the deepest crisis since the days of Idi
Amin with almost no funding for districts;
 Allocation of funds to Local Government remains minimal and
affecting the quality of service delivery;
 Leakages of funds as they move from centre to Local Government.

8. WHAT IS THE POLICY PROBLEM?
Imbalances in the current power configuration especially
between the LG and the CG
Distorted/unclear vertical and horizontal accountability
relationships
A disengaged citizenry without the requisite civic competence
to demand for quality services and accountability for non-
performance;
Mismanagement of public resources/corruption;
Rampant conflicts between Speakers and LC 5s and between
the political and technical staff.

9. WHAT IS THE POLICY PROBLEM?
 At ACODE, We are convinced that the problem of poor quality
services can only be improved by complementing the current supply-side
interventions with demand-side solutions
Consequently, the LGCSCI is premised on the demand-side model
theory of change;
Our theory of change is that by monitoring the performance of Local
Leaders on a regular basis and providing timely information about their
performance to the public, citizens will demand for increased
accountability on local political leaders hence triggering a vertical spiral of
demand for accountability from the local to the national level.

10. The LGCSCI Theory of Change
• Monitoring the performance of Local Councils/Leaders
and providing information about their performance to the
electorate will lead citizens to demand accountability from
their local elected officials.
• This increased citizen demand, which CSOs and local
governments will channel upwards to central government,
will ultimately result in
– a more responsive government
– more effective service delivery
– better performing local government officials
– a more engaged citizenry

11. The LGCSCI Theory of Change

12. Strategy of the Local Government Council
Score-card Initiative
• Research and Scorecard analysis
• Outreach and capacity building
– seeks to identify key factors that inhibit the capacity of district councils to
provide quality services to their electorate
– help design appropriate remedial actions to be taken to improve
performance.
– Councilor’s Diary
– Peer to peer exchanges
• SMS platform
• Intensive dissemination
• Building a local network of research and advocacy CSOs and individuals
(champions)

13. LGCSCI Research
Methodology
• Regional Balance
• Length of existence
• Model Districts
• Perceived
Marginalization

14. WHO IS ASSESSED?
 District Council;
 Chairperson;
 Speaker;
 Councillors

15. LGCSCI Methodology
• Score card developed and tested on a regular
basis
• Research Instruments for Data Collection
– Structured Interviewer Schedules - Scorecard
– FGD Guide
– Key Informant Interview Guide
– Observation Checklist
– Photography

16. LGCSCI Methodology Cont’d
– Key Strength
• Robust methodology
• Multi-skilled team
• Triangulation of methods
– Key Limitations
• Possibility of biases
• Risk of bribery
• District Executive Committee not assessed
• Uniform treatment of all councillors regardless of area of coverage
and special interest

17. ACHIEVEMENTS TODATE
 MoU with MoF
 Early releases of funds to districts;
 Improvement in monitoring of service delivery
 Quality of debates in Councils has improved
 Increased demand for LGCSI by other districts
 Increase from 10, 20, 26, 30 districts.
 Capacity building component- training, peer to learning and dairies;
 Minutes and Documentation of council deliberations has improved;
 Hostility towards the initiative has reduced;
 Civic awareness of citizens has increased;
 Peer to peer learning between districts- Nwoya- Kabarole; Gulu-Mbarara;
 Initiative has become a model for replication in other countries.

18. Thank You.