THE UGANDAN JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES Volume 13 No.1, November 2017. http://www.umi.ac.ug i The Ugandan Journal Of Management And Public Policy Studies Editors and Members of the Editorial Advisory Board Editors • Chief Editor: Dr. Lazarus Nabaho, Uganda Management Institute • Deputy Chief Editor: Dr. Paul Malunda, Uganda Management Institute • Managing Editor: Dr. Rose B. Namara, Uganda Management Institute Editorial Advisory Board • Prof. Gelase Mutahaba, Department of Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Prof. Joy Kwesiga, Kabale University, Uganda • Prof. Grace Bantebya, School of Gender Studies, Makerere University, Uganda • Prof. Yasin Olum, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University, Uganda • Prof. Mande W. Muyinda, Nkumba University, Uganda • Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, Mbarara University of Science & Technology , Uganda • Prof. Samson Opolot, Centre for Basic Research, Kampala, Uganda • Prof. William Kaberuka, Makerere University Business School, Uganda • Dr. James Nkata, Director General, Uganda Management Institute, Uganda • Dr. Martyn Davies, Gordon Frontier of Advisory, South Africa • Dr. John Mary Kauzya, UNDESA/DPADM, United States • Dr. Randhir Auluck, Conventry University, United Kingdom • Prof. Muhamed Salih, Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, The Netherlands • Prof. Paul Jackson, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom Editorial Address: Uganda Management Institute (UMI), P.O.Box 20131, Kampala; Tel, 256-414-259722, Fax 256,414-259581; email: [email protected], journal@ umi.ac.ug, web: www.umi.ac.ug Printed and bound by: Uganda Management Institute, Kampala First Published 2010 ISSN: 2078-7049 Copyright: Uganda Management Institute (UMI). All rights reserved. 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Printed by Graphic Centre Ltd, Tel: 0701 446 340/0772 446 324 ii Introduction Introduction The Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies is a multidisciplinary Journal publishing a wide range of articles relating to public administration, management, leadership and public policy, from empirical studies and theoretical orientations to practical application. The Journal also reviews books, essays, and research notes that are relevant to both scholars and practitioners involved at all levels of administration and management from various organizational forms including business firms, non-governmental organizations, public institutions and individual networks. Aim and scope The Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies is a scholarly Journal published to scientifically address the problems, interests and concerns of managers and intellectuals concerned with management science profession. It aims at improving the understanding and practice of management. The Journal is an essential reading, publishing articles from a wide range of authors, both well-established scholars and young scholars. Thus the Journal is an important resource for: a) Management Development Institutions b) Social Science Faculties and Research Institutions c) Graduate teachers and researchers in management science d) Civil service practitioners e) Students of management f) All people interested in the practice of Management iii The Ugandan Journal Of Management And Public Policy Studies Editorial note Volume 13 (1) of The Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies is a collection of articles that focus on four thematic areas: education management and governance, public service reforms, gender, and the economy. In the first article, Fred Wahitu uses a multiple case study approach to analyse the role of School Management Committees (SMCs) in the implementation of the Universal Primary Education Programme in Uganda. The findings reveal that SMCs participate in the planning, budgeting, and monitoring of activities of schools as well as mobilisation of parents and the community to participate in activities of the schools. The study reveals a high level of volunteerism in most of the SMCs and that the implementation of the activities varies across the SMCs as a result of differences in capacity, resources and the economic status of the communities. Wahitu recommends that the Government trains and regulates the SMCs for successful implementation of UPE in the country. James Lam-Lagoro, James Lam-Lagoro, J.P. Ocitti, Peter Neema Abooki examines whether the triple missions of the University constitute core functions at Gulu University in Uganda. The study established that research and publication, and community engagement are yet to become core functions at Gulu University. The study recommends that the University should strengthen the research and publication function by formulating a comprehensive and standard research and publication policy and by adequately resourcing the research and community engagement functions. In an article on New Public Management (NPM) inspired reforms, Hilda Musubira applies a descriptive analysis to explore the readiness of the ministries in Uganda to implement Open Performance Appraisal (OPA) and a regression model to determine the effect of readiness on the implementation of the OPA. The findings underscore the positive significance of readiness of ministries on the implementation of the OPA but with a missing sense of efficacy and commitment for successful implementation of the OPA. The article sketches the implications for the implementation of future reforms in the public service. Tom Darlington Balojja, in yet another article on education management, probes the effects of Government of Uganda’s prioritization of funding of primary education on the sub-sector’s performance against the established quality indicators. The article observes that the level of funding is inadequate to address the salient factors in pursuit of quality indicators and hence quality of primary education falls below the threshold indicators. To enhance quality of primary education, he recommends an increase in funding to the primary education sub-sector and an increase in the frequency of school inspection. Jason Nkyabonaki introduces the gender dimension by analysing the level of women participation in decision-making at the political and managerial spheres in Tanzania. Nkyabonaki observes that women are under- represented in decision-making positions despite the initiatives by responsible institutions to enhance their level participation. Nkyabonaki recommends increasing the number of women leaders in political and managerial domains. iv Editorial note Asumani Guloba uses International Monetary Fund (IMF) external vulnerability assessment framework to analyse Uganda’s Balance of Payment (BoP) data with the objective of establishing whether BoP deficits should be a cause of concern for the country. The findings indicate that while the BoP is largely sustainable based on external vulnerability assessment, persistent current account imbalances should be addressed. Furthermore, Guloba notes that increased reliance on external loan financing instead of more sustainable foreign direct investment (FDI) steadily contributes to a build-up of debt. Finally, the author observes that international reserve financing of recent BoP deficits risks the reserves falling below sustainable levels. To incentivize capital goods while discouraging consumer goods imports, Guloba recommends a long term trade policy that encourages production and discourage consumption goods imports. In the final article of this Volume, Edward Ngobye and Asumani Guloba analyse the debt sustainability exercise undertaken by Uganda to determine whether it provides solutions to management of the public debt. The findings reveal that the Government of Uganda uses results of the debt sustainability analysis to justify additional public borrowing instead of guiding public debt management. The study further established that the macroeconomic assumptions used, especially on domestic debt stance, do not reflect the out-turn fiscal policy being implemented which underestimates the domestic interest cost burden to public debt sustainability. Ngobye and Gulooba recommend that new borrowing, even on concessional terms, should be pursued with caution, based on prudent economic projections and in recognition of the country –specific circumstances and risks. v The Ugandan Journal Of Management And Public Policy Studies vi Editorial note Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. Aim and Scope .......................................................................................................................... Editorial Note ........................................................................................................................... Accounting for UPE implementation: the contribution of School Management Committees: Fred H, Wahitu ...................................................................................................................................1