Local Governance and Forest Conditions: The Case of Forests in Mpigi District of Uganda

Abstract

"In this paper, we hypothesize that there is inadequate investment in monitoring and enforcement of forest harvesting regulations by the local governments leading to the degradation of forest resources in the country. Since local councils are the actors charged with implementing decentralization policies, in this paper we also seek to understand the incentives and constraints local politicians face in implementing the Local Government Act of 1997. We use a longitudinal strategy of collecting social, institutional, and ecological data collected from nine forests in Mpigi district in1994/95 and in 1999/2000. This period represents the first five years of implementation of the decentralization policy of 1994.

"The data collected was used to assess the changes in rights and responsibilities, funding and staffing levels, incentives to manage, monitor, and enforce forest rules and regulations and the change in forest conditions following the implementation of the above policies. In the paper, we first present the background to the decentralization reforms in Uganda's forest sector. We then describe the forest estate in Mpigi district, one of the pilot districts where the decentralization policy was first implemented. We then report on sharing of roles and responsibilities between local governments and the central government and the subsequent decline in monitoring and rule enforcement due to limited financial and human capital by the local governments. Finally, using data collected from nine forests located in Mpigi district we report on forest conditions and how they are affected by the absence of effective forest rule enforcement by the decentralized district."