COURSE NAME: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF UGANDA

CODE: DVS 21O5

COURSE LEVEL: Degree, Year 2 Semester 1
CREDIT UNIT: 3

Prerequisite:

Purpose/Aim: The aim of the course is to present and stimulate debate on the ways in which
Uganda’s historical development has influenced existing institutions, political structures and
processes, society and culture, and to emphasize opportunities and potential risks to future
development.

Description: This development studies course is designed to provide a background for a detailed
analysis of processes of political and social change in Uganda, and their implications for the
country’s social, political and economic development. The aim of the course is to present and
stimulate debate on the ways in which Uganda’s historical development has influenced existing
institutions, political structures and processes, society and culture, and to emphasize
opportunities and potential risks to future development.

This course gives an overview of Uganda’s political economy from the colonial era through the
years of economic reforms. This course touches on the various development plans for the
country. There is a study of the various economic policies of the various regimes.

Objectives: To enable students understand the factors that have delayed Uganda’s development.

 To Identify specific policies of the various regimes

 Give a general overview of the political economy of Uganda since independence.

 To analyze Uganda’s historical and current political and economic perspectives and how
these have affected the development of this nation.
 To identify the root causes of the development problems and possible interventions
 To foster a spirit of nationalism and also ensure that students merge out as good
ambassadors of good governance.

Course content: Hours

 Pre-colonial Ugandan Society-Production, politics, kingdoms 6
 Colonialism-Colonial economy, colonial regional division of labor, 6
 Responses to colonialism 3
 Nationalism and the birth of Political Parties 3
 Economic Reforms after Independence
 Import Substitution 1
 Industrial Policies 1
 Reforms in the 1970s 1
 Amin’s Economic War 1

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  1980s World Bank Reforms I and II 1
 Structural Adjustment Programs Before and After 1986 1

National Resistance Movement

 The 10/15 points programme 1

 Political and Economic Reforms during NRM: 1986-2000- Decentralization,

Privatization, Economic Liberalization, The 1995 Constitution
3

 The Local Government Act: Gender Inequality and Equality Issues (Affirmative Action)
1

 AGOA 1

 Rural Development Policies and Strategies 1

 Plan for Modernization of Agriculture in Uganda: impact of PMA, Successes and

Challenges 2

 Uganda’s role in Regional and African Context 3

 Peace Keeping missions in Somalia, DRC etc 3

 Ideology, Patriotism and Nationalism in Uganda 6

No. COURSE OUTLINE LH PH TH CH CU

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1.Pre-Colonial Uganda 6 0 0
2.Colonial Uganda 6 0 0
3.Struggle for Independence 6 0 0
4.Post Colonial Uganda 6 0
5.National Resistance Movement 9 0
6.Uganda’s role in Regional and Global Context 6 0
7.Ideology, Patriotism and Nationalism in Uganda 6 0
Total CU 45 45 3
Mode of delivery:
 Lectures
 Case studies and class exercises.
 Group assignments and presentations.
 Group reading.

Mode of Assessment:
No Mode of Assessment Mark (%)
1 Mid-semester exam or take home assignment 30

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 2 Class attendance and Students presentations 10
3 Final Examinations 60
TOTAL 100

Instructional Materials
1. LED Projectors
2. Laptops
3. Teaching boards and writers
4. Rooms with enough chairs and tables.

Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be expected to:
 Comprehend the factors that have delayed Uganda’s development.

 Identify specific policies of the various regimes

 Give a general overview of the political economy of Uganda since independence.

 Analyze Uganda’s historical and current political and economic perspectives and how
these have affected the development of this nation.
 Identify the stem of the development problems and what can be done to alleviate them
 Foster a spirit of nationalism and also ensure that students merge out as good
ambassadors of good governance.

Reading materials:
Mamdani M. (1976). Politics and Class Formation in Uganda. London: Monthly Review Press
Hansen, H & Twaddle M. (Eds). (1991). Changing Uganda: The Dilemmas of Structural
Adjustment and Revolutionary Change. London: Villers Publications
Jorgensen, J. J. (1982). Uganda: A Modern History. Croom Helm Ltd
Kabwegyere, Tarsis B.(1995). The Politics of State Formation and Destruction in Uganda,
Kampala: Fountain Publishers Ltd
Karugire, S. (1996).Roots of Instability in Uganda. Kampala: Fountain Publishers
Karugire S. R. (1980). A Political History in Uganda. Nairobi and London: Heinemann
Kiwanuka Semakula. (1973). From Colonialism to Independence: A Reappraisal of Colonial
Policies & African Reactions 1870 – 1960, Nairobi: Kenya Literature Bureau
Moncrieffe Joy. (2004). Uganda’s Political Economy: a synthesis of major thought
Villadsen, Soren and Francis Lubanga (Ed) (1996). Democratic Decentralization in Uganda: A
New Approach to Local Governance. Kampala: Fountain Publishers, 1996

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