Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies

Trends and Patterns in Public-Private Partnership in Developing Countries:

Robert Agwot Komakech — 2025-07-15

This article aims to analyse the trends, patterns, and development of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developing economies over the years. This study employs bibliometric techniques using data extracted from the Scopus database. Five hundred nine (509) articles were carefully selected and examined using performance analysis, science mapping, and network visualization tools (VOSviewer) to identify trends, collaborative networks, and thematic clusters in PPP research. The research shows that interest in PPPs in developing countries has grown significantly since the early 2000s. Additionally, five (5) thematic clusters emerged: the dynamics of PPPs in developing nations; infrastructure and risk management; sustainable development; governance and critical success factors; and challenges related to water supply and corruption. The study indicates that PPPs are vital for closing infrastructure gaps, while effective risk management, governance, and capacity building are crucial. These insights are relevant to policymakers and practitioners, emphasising PPPs as a strategic approach for closing infrastructure gaps and enhancing service delivery in developing countries. As a result, balanced collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to tackling challenges in these areas. The study enhances the theoretical understanding of PPPs by identifying key success factors and governance frameworks that promote their effectiveness. It also offers a new bibliometric perspective on PPP research in developing nations, thereby addressing a significant gap in the current literature.

The Decentralisation - Recentralisation Paradox in Uganda’s Local Governance:

Peter Adoko Obicci — 2025-07-15

Uganda’s governance framework has witnessed a paradoxical shift between decentralisation and recentralisation since the 1990s, sparking debates among scholars and policymakers. This article examines the intricate factors driving the decentralisation–recentralisation phenomenon in Uganda’s governance framework. The study employs a qualitative research approach that analyses secondary data drawn from academic journals, policy documents, and existing studies. The decentralisation–recentralisation dialectic results from power struggles between the central government and local authorities, undermining democratic governance. Decentralisation initially promoted participation and accountability, but recentralisation efforts have eroded these gains. Understanding the decentralisation–recentralisation interplay is crucial for policymakers to inform targeted policy interventions which strengthen decentralisation and democratic governance. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on decentralisation and recentralisation, providing insights into the paradoxical nature of Uganda’s governance framework. It relies on secondary data, but further research is needed to explore the perspectives of local authorities and citizens. Policymakers must prioritise institutional reforms and citizen participation to achieve balanced governance amidst decentralisation dynamics.

Governance Of Oil and Gas in Uganda

Madinah Nabukeera — 2025-07-15

Effective management of oil and gas resources is vital to boosting Uganda's economic development. The country has 1.38 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves, significantly improving revenue, exports, and investment. Thus, the current study analysed the governance of oil and gas in Uganda by comparing value realisation, revenue management, enabling environment, and law and practice. The study explicitly compared Uganda’s oil and gas sector scores from 2017 to 2021 across four key areas: oil and gas value, the enabling environment, revenue management, and laws and practices. The study employed a descriptive design, using solely quantitative methods to examine Uganda’s governance of oil and gas. It relied on secondary data freely available on the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) website. A two-sample t-test was conducted, and conclusions
on the study hypotheses were drawn based on the resulting p-values. The findings emphasise the need to strengthen the enforcement of existing laws. Uganda must move beyond having well-crafted legislation on paper to ensuring its full implementation in practice. The government should uphold the rule of law in managing the oil and gas sector to guarantee that the current legal framework delivers tangible socio-economic benefits.

Technostress and ICT Adoption among Senior Managers in Ugandan Public Universities

Mary Basaasa Muhenda — 2025-07-15

The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in higher education has streamlined administration and teaching. However, it also creates unique stressors or technostress that can either facilitate or hinder adoption. In this study, we examined the relationship between technostress and ICT adoption among senior managers in Ugandan public universities. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used to collect survey and interview data from eighty-eight (88) senior managers across seven universities. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the
multidimensionality of both technostress (complexity, overload, invasion, uncertainty, and insecurity) and ICT adoption (ease of use, acceptance, and usefulness). Regression analysis showed that technostress was a predictor of ICT adoption. Specifically, techno-complexity had a negative impact, while techno-overload and techno-invasion had positive impacts. Techno-insecurity and techno-uncertainty did not have a significant impact on ICT
adoption. Qualitative data confirmed the quantitative findings, indicating that stressors like workload and constant connectivity promote adoption, while complexity acts as a barrier. The results contribute to theory by showing that stressors have varying effects on adoption, with some discouraging and others encouraging it. In practice, the findings highlight the need to address complexity through training and user-friendly ICT design, along with balanced policies to prevent overload and invasion of privacy.