Challenges of personnel management in a decentralized system of governance:

Abstract

This study was inspired by the need to examine the contribution of women politicians in promoting women’s political participation in Bagezza Sub County Mubende district in Uganda. Bagezza Sub County was used as the case study. Specifically, the study set out to find out whether women politicians have promoted women’s participation in elections; the extent to which women politicians have mentored upcoming women leaders; and whether women leaders have given civic education to fellow women in Bagezza Sub County. Several studies were reviewed to have a better understanding of all concepts involved and the study subjects. Since the study was to derive a general picture of the aspects for the whole of Uganda but using one selected area, the case study design was used in this study. A total population of fifty-one people were earmarked to take part in the study using the guidance of Cochran (1979) sampling table, 40 respondents were picked to make the sample upon which the findings and conclusions here-in are based. Two sampling techniques were embraced for discrete reasons. These included judgmental/or purposive sampling, which was chosen for purposes of capturing specified data, while the other was accidental sampling which was used mainly on the locals in Bagezza so as to maintain a chance for inclusion of all people. Data collection was done using both primary and secondary methods. Primary methods included the use of interviews and use of questionnaires. While documentary review was adopted as a secondary data collection method. Data analysis and presentation were majorly done qualitatively. The key findings of the study were that majority of the respondents understood what women participation in politics means. On women politicians and carrying out of civic education to other women in the area, the study established that civic education is done both as a planned program and sometimes not planned. Planned civic education is carried out through three arrangements including village meetings, radio programs, and use of posters. Of the three arrangements, village meetings were found to be more effective (70%) and preferred by the locals. Radio programs were rated second in effectiveness with 15%, while use of posters scored least at 13% effectiveness, among other ways such as the unplanned programs assuming 3%. Under the aspect of mentorship, some traces of efforts to mentor other women were observed. These were identified in form of recruiting young ladies who are politically oriented to work closely with other women politicians. This in a way helped such upcoming politicians to learn closely from the politicians. Also other efforts of mentoring were recognized of women politicians holding talk shows on radio stations. As they speak to the listeners, some of them get mentored. In relation to women supporting other women participate in elections, there was no evidence on the ground, instead women in politics looked at fellow women as competitors and would not offer support. Basing on the findings, this study recommends that women politicians should take deliberate measures of promoting other women into politics as a guaranteed approach to achieving gender balance among men and women. They constantly need to mentor and also empower other women with civic education. Government should also uplift the affirmative action strategies for political