Non-Government Organisations’ Aid Funded Projects in Uganda are Costly and Inefficient: Time to Consider Writing a ‘New History’ Based on Research

Purpose: As part of a broader research on Non-Government Organisation (NGO) aid projects, Value for Money, this research examines the economy and efficiency of three NGOs aid-funded projects in Uganda that have concluded. Design/Methodology/Approach: To examine the economy, a retrospective cost analysis is used to review the projects’ budget and expenditure records, while unit cost analysis uses a formula designed by the author. Findings: The projects were uneconomical and inefficient, with 76% of overall project money being spent on non-beneficiary costs and 24% on beneficiary costs. There are significant increases, range 172%-785%, between the total direct cost of an output (amount spent to acquire an output, less delivery costs) and the total amount spent per output (total direct cost of an output plus delivery cost). Originality/Value: This paper uses these findings to highlight the inaccuracy of one of the neoliberal arguments that propelled NGOs to become one of the main development aid delivery channels. It raises the pragmatic urgency for the proper identification of the NGO niche, particularly in Uganda, as a way to accurately situate NGO projects in the development discourse, apportion expectations, and aid in the efforts to achieve the 2030 agenda. Keywords: Civil Society; Cost of NGO Projects; Development Effectiveness; Efficiency of NGO Projects; Southern NGOs and Value for Money. Citation: Kaijabwango, C. (2025): Non-Government Organisations’ Aid-Funded Projects in Uganda are Costly and Inefficient: Time to Consider Writing a ‘New History’ based on Research. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.115-132.