Development Planning versus Economic Performance in Uganda, 1961-1971

Mugaju, Justus B.

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Title:	Development Planning versus Economic Performance in Uganda, 1961-1971
Author:	Mugaju, Justus B.
Year:	1990
Periodical:	Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391)
Volume:	19
Pages:	99-116
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Uganda East Africa
Subjects:	economic development national plans 1960-1969 1970-1979 History and Exploration Development and Technology Economics and Trade Politics and Government Economics, Commerce development planning
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/24328678
Abstract:	Nothing is more instructive for the failure of development planning in Uganda than the ongoing unprecedented economic crisis. This paper examines the process of development planning in Uganda in relation to actual economic performance between 1961 and 1972. It argues that the roots of poor economic performance can be traced to the first decade of independence or even earlier. Its four sections deal respectively with the country's economic background at independence, the Development Plans of the 1960s, the actual performance of the economy during the same period and the question of planning vis-à-vis the political realities of postcolonial Uganda. On the eve of independence, the Uganda economy was characterized by the preponderance of agriculture, notably coffee and cotton. The Uganda agricultural economy was hampered by the absence of innovation, experimentation and modernization. The objectives of the First and Second Five Year Development Plans (1961-1966 and 1966-1971) were to increase the wealth of the country through rapid economic growth, bring about greater economic and social justice, and diversify the economy. The actual growth of the economy, however, was far below planning expectations. There was no structural transformation of the economy and in 1971 Uganda was still a predominantly agricultural country. Among the causes discussed are the lack of planning experience of decisionmakers, the government's neglect of the cotton and coffee producers, and the absence of minimum political consensus. Ref.