| dc.description.abstract | Decentralization policy is a long-time practice in Africa. It became more definite in the 1980s and 1990s, aimed at solving the economic, social, and political defects that had been common within the bureaucratic governments that had mostly replaced colonial governments during the 1960s. The Human Resource function was among the areas targeted in the decentralization reforms in Uganda and personnel decentralization was set up as a decentralization policy reform aimed at improving among other factors; employee performance. This was because Local Governments were given autonomy to manage their employees as they deem fit. However, the performance of Local Government employees has been ailing regardless of such policy reforms. The objectives of the study included; to examine the Local Government efforts which have been made in managing Decentralized HR; to assess the extent to which these Local Governments’ efforts have been effective in enhancing employee performance of decentralized HR; and to identify possible management strategies that can be employed by Local Governments to enhance employee performance. Three theoretical perspectives inform the study and these include; the individual differences perspective, the situational perspective, and the performance regulation perspective. The study used a largely qualitative approach, supplemented with some quantitative data, and employed a single case study research design. It was carried out in Wakiso district, higher and lower Local Governments, and interviews, questionnaires, the analysis of existing reports, and Focus Group Discussions were the methods of data collection used. The study established that, while Local Governments have made several efforts in the management of their Human Resource, these have not been adequate in covering all the areas of personnel decentralization. The study also established that the Local Governments’ Human Resource management efforts are theoretically impressive but in practice, are far from reality and have not been largely effective in enhancing staff performance. This is because most of the procedures to ensure the effectiveness of these Human Resource functions are not conformed to. The study has argued that Local Governments need to undertake more deliberate efforts and measures to follow and ensure the effectiveness of the different HR management efforts in enhancing staff performance. Furthermore, LGs need to put in place a variety of strategies to ensure the effective management of their employees to enhance their performance. | en_US |
