NATIONAL

Policy

Originating from various sources with the intent of regulating a prevailing or foreseen situation, policies are selected courses of action that guide government decisions affecting the lives of citizens addressing issues or problems that cross functional and organizational boundaries. Policy making is the process by which governments translate their political vision into programs and actions to deliver outcomes (desired change in the real world) involving two related operations: the executive decision-making process; and the policy planning process that supports and informs the decision.

Policy management process is depicted in four stages through which the government makes, elaborates, gives legal and financial effects to, and actually delivers their policy commitments. The stages involve:

STAGE 1 The Executive sets broad policy commitments binding it to implement a particular set of policies

STAGE 2     Departments/ Ministries prepare policy and budget proposals to deliver on the broad policy commitments

STAGE 3     The Executive provides adequate budget, removes procedural obstacles and anticipates the likely reaction of external veto players

STAGE 4 Departments/ Ministries implement

The 1995 constitution of the Republic of Uganda guides policy formulation through its National Objectives and Directive Principles that lay a foundation upon which policy development rests. The constitution provides that the President shall report all steps taken to realize national policy objectives and principles at least once a year. Uganda being a democratic country, the winning party manifesto is one of the various sources of public policy others including but not limited to the national planning framework; and international and regional influence.  

The executive office (Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister as well as supporting advisory, liaison or analytic units) is responsible for the policy management process. Whereas Article 111(2) of the Constitution of Uganda empowers the cabinet to determine, formulate and implement the government policy, Article 79, empowers the Parliament "to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda", and "to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance in Uganda".

Upon identifying a policy issue or problem, the relevant line ministry embarks on the policy development process and the permanent secretary prepares a draft Cabinet Memorandum (based on Guidelines provided by the Cabinet Secretariat) which is presented to the cabinet for approval by the minister. The traditional constitutional framework of policy-making offers a limited understanding of policy development as it suggests that politicians make policy and public servants implement them hence failing to recognize the many competing factors that guide policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. Financial, legal and other administrative implications of proposed policies are identified by the ministry in charge with consultations carried out to deal with any inconsistencies of the new policy that might affect other ministries. Ministries are advised to keep consultation with the secretariat until final Cabinet submission is completed