Political Decentralization and Public Service Delivery Performance in Uganda

Political decentralization is intended to make public decisions more responsive to citizens, but formal local authority does not ensure effective services. This article examines institutional capacity and local accountability as possible mechanisms linking political decentralization with public service delivery performance in Uganda. An integrative narrative review combines decentralization, principal-agent and institutional theories with Ugandan empirical studies, comparative evidence and the revised legal framework. The synthesis finds that implementation capability, information, political incentives and credible corrective action shape the practical value of local authority. Ugandan accountability evaluations report differing outcomes, highlighting the importance of design and context. The article distinguishes capacity as a possible mediator from pre-existing capacity as a moderator, and participation from effective accountability. Three conceptual illustrations and five analytical matrices translate the argument into an operational framework and evaluation strategy. A longitudinal, multisource design is proposed to examine functionality, access, quality, timeliness and equity. The article concludes that decentralization should connect decision authority with professional capability, coordinated resources and verified accountability responses. Its findings are literature-based; no new district dataset or estimated mediation effects are reported.