In the past half a century, civil society has rapidly gained recognition for its role in development policy and practice. Following the re-emergence of the New Policy Agenda in the early 1990s, and the consolidation of neoliberal and democratic governance reforms, mainstream development organizations such as the World Bank quickly identified Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as vehicles for advancing ideas about good governance. They were viewed simultaneously as public actors that could support the democratic process in political spheres, and private market-based actors that could support service delivery where the state failed. It is no wonder that civil society organizations, especially Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), have now become part of the global governance and development system.
In Uganda, the civil society sector has not only grown significantly in terms of numbers but also mutated from predominantly service-delivery to advocacy on human rights and governance issues. Service Delivery NGOs augment government efforts and fill the gaps where Government cannot reach. Until recently, it was estimated that CSOs, mainly Faith-Based Organizations, provided up to 40% of health services in the country. For their complementary role, the Government is supportive and welcoming of their interventions. On the other hand, advocacy NGOs in Uganda provide a counterweight to the power of the political elite and balance the power between citizens and the state. These organizations check state excesses and challenge its inefficiencies. This accountability role has significantly shaped the nature of the relationship between NGOs and the State. It is unsurprising therefore that in Uganda’s neo-patrimonial contexts3 where the state works towards maintaining political control, there exists a conflictual relationship between CSOs and the state. Read more