Leadership challenges in the management of community development projects: A case study of World Vision Kasawo Area Development project.

Abstract

This research was carried out in Kasawo Sub-county, which is found in Mukono district and has 41 villages with a total population of 31,149 people. World Vision Uganda operates an area development programme in this sub county. This programme is managed through local councils and village committees in implementation of several development initiatives. This research is based on the need to identify the leadership challenges involved in managing community development programmes. These local council committees are often not representative of the all classes of people in these communities with the poor and other disadvantaged groups marginalized from participating in leadership on these committees.

This study was geared towards, assessing the overall effectiveness of leadership by local councils in implementing community projects and based on the assumptions that representation through village councils is the best strategy of ensuring involvement of the people in their development and that the poor and marginalized actively participate through local committees in their development. During the survey, quantitative data was collected using questionnaires that were administered to serving members on existing local councils and affiliate development committees from the 4 sampled villages out of 41 villages in the area namely: Kikandwa, Nongo, Nsanvu and Nassejjobe. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also held to collect qualitative data about these committees. Survey data collected was analyzed using SPSS 11 and relevant data interpretation consequently done.

Results from the study revealed that leadership on village committees is cautiously elected by communities based on criteria often established by the communities themselves but which often evaluates one’s capacity and ability to lead others, this criteria often times eliminates or places the poor, women, disabled and the elderly at a disadvantage compared with other groups or classes of people in these communities as regards representation and active involvement in leadership on these committees. Efforts to sensitize communities on the need to involve everyone in their leadership should be taken up by all development agencies and government since majority of the respondents did not regard representation on village committees as an important aspect of ensuring participation of everyone in development programmes.