The Role of Local Governments in Ensuring Sustainability of Agricultural Projects: A Case Study of Nagojje Sub-county, Mukono District.

Abstract

MUMBERE JAMES CLETO (2010-M083-10034) The Role of Local Governments in Ensuring Sustainability of Agricultural Projects: A Case Study of Nagojje Sub-county, Mukono District. The report investigating the role of local governments in ensuring sustainability of agriculture projects sets out the findings of a study to answer five specific research questions: How Nagojje sub-county local government ensures sustainability of agricultural projects; how government disburses funds for Agricultural projects to Local Governments; whether communities participate in sustainability of Agricultural Projects in Nagojje sub-county; the challenges faced in ensuring sustainability of Agricultural Projects in Nagojje sub-county; and what could be the possible solutions to the challenges affecting the sustainability of agricultural projects in Nagojje sub-county. The research was conducted in Nagojje sub-county, Mukono district. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Data were collected from 60 respondents through household interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Both manual and computer packages (SPSS) were used to analyse the data. The findings from this research found out that community members not being involved in prioritisation of needs and problems, not able to demand physical and financial accountabilities, a good number being school drop-outs, corruption tendencies and not being in position to make their action plans while the local leaders fail to monitor projects as some of the factors having substantial influence on the sustainability of agriculture projects. Secondly, the politicisation of the programmes and the inadequate funding that even limits the local governments to plan for agriculture projects. All the above justify the big role local governments still have to do if they have to ensure sustainability of agriculture projects. The research offered key recommendations to both policymakers and practitioners. These include: Improving coordination, monitoring, inspection and evaluation of government programmes at all levels, Strengthening the accountability and anti-corruption institutions; specifying the timelines for clearance of contracts and building a committed and responsible citizenry able to partake of projects as their own and to ensure proper accountability is given by the local leaders. Conclusively, the research found that the role played by local governments in ensuring sustainability of agriculture projects is still minimal and so calls for local governments to use all their concerted efforts to see to it that agriculture projects are sustainable. Key Worfds: Local Governments, Sustainability, Agricultural Projects, Mukono District.