The Impact of the Privatization of Uganda Telecommunication to Socio-Economic Development of Uganda (A Case Study of Kampala and Lira Districts)

Abstract

This study highlights how privatizing Uganda telecommunication had impacts to socio-economic development of Uganda and how the leaderships of Uganda pursued privatization of Ugandan’s economy, because it was argued that privatization would bring sustained economic growth, prosperity, political stability, and effective democracy in Uganda. Besides, how privatizing Uganda telecommunication certainly increased efficiency and profitability. The study has assessed the Impact of Privatizing Uganda Telecommunication to Socio-Economic Development of Uganda, by focusing on three key variables which includes, 1) Employment Opportunity, 2) Per Capita Income, and 3) Personality Benefits. The research addressed the question of; “what were the impacts of privatizing Uganda Telecommunication to Socio-economic development of Uganda?” The findings were encouraging because privatization created more employment opportunity and increased per capita income, thereby raising the number of beneficiaries significantly and hence improving on the socio-economic development of Uganda. From the two districts (Kampala & Lira) selected, the study showed that privatizing Uganda telecommunication had many positive impacts on socio-economic development of Uganda as a country because employment opportunity and individual earning improved significantly and the number of beneficiaries increased. However, It also discovered the relevant policies that were used during the privatization of Uganda telecommunication, including deregulation of capital intensive sectors and the economy. Different problems and failures were analyzed, addressed, and reflecting diverse motives that resulted into varied outcomes on employment opportunities, costs for the same services, dysfunctional and management skills. To a greater extent, the study also analyzes the critical impact of each variable in relation to socio-economic development of Uganda and embarks on the massive impact of Uganda Telecommunication that transformed to be different, engaging in rhetoric that resonating with the global paradigm of “New Public Management (NPM)” and “Good Governance”, in order to support privatization in Uganda. This study applied a qualitative research technique besides a descriptive approach because of an anticipated proper collection and varification of data.