Public Servic es Reform in Uganda (1989-2002): A Critical Appraisal.

The current drive to improve management in governments through public service reform programmes to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and the delivery of quality service to the public (i.e., customers) is common to many developing countries including Uganda. The purpose of this paper is not to evaluate the success or failure of the Public Service reform processes as such but rather to assess the major challenges to this type of exercise using Uganda's case. The paper will address rhe extent to which the reform programme in Uganda has achieved its objectives so far. The paper will argue that the Uganda Government reformed the Public Service at a most difficult time when its political and social-economic infrastructure to support its revitalization had totally collapsed. Under these grace circumstances, it is extremely difficult for the Government of Uganda to fully achieve the objectives of the reform programme that it is now implementing.