The Politics of Agricultural Policy Reform: The Case of Uganda

Abstract

Abstract The debate on the politics of reform in Africa often focuses on neo‐patrimonialism as the main impediment to reform. While not denying the importance of patronage, this article focuses on how elections have affected agricultural policy in Uganda. It particularly focuses on the implementation of a reform of agricultural extension services (NAADS) which has been affected by a series of government interventions. The authors argue that the need to mobilise votes has become increasingly important to the Museveni regime in light of its ambitions to remain in power. As politics become more competitive, at least 2 political dynamics affect the implementation of agricultural policy: one is the need to implement policies that have tangible benefit to citizens country‐wide, and the second is the need to provide material resources in exchange for political loyalty. These dynamics have become increasingly urgent as support for the regime has declined. Keywords: policy reformimplementationelectionsagricultureAfricaUganda Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Ole Therkildsen for thoughtful comments on an earlier version of this paper, and Warwick Thompson for his insights on NAADs. Anne Mette Kjær acknowledges support from Danida's research unit for the collective project on elites, production and poverty, www.diis.dk/epp. Notes 1 The last published agricultural census in Uganda was in 1965. Another census was carried out in 1990–1991 but the results proved contentious and were never published. At the time of writing, full‐scale livestock and agricultural censuses are in advanced stages and the results are eagerly anticipated. 2 This is directly contrary to the PFA document which says: 'the process will require hard work and there will be no free money or handouts. Instead timely information for guiding the peasants will be continuously provided' (GoU, 2008). 3 Prosperity For All, the new GoU overarching policy for agriculture (see below). 4 Uganda has more than 10,000 citizens operating as security guards in Iraq, protecting US Army bases, airports, and oil firms (Delany, Citation2009) and also some 4000 troops in Somalia, ostensibly as Africa Union peacekeepers but also as direct conduits for US military supplies to the Transitional Federal Government (Daily Nation, 3 September 2009).