THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TOWARDS GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN THE CASE STUDY OF JONGLEI STATE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION i

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

ABSTRACT ix

CHAPTER ONE ......... 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

1.1 Back Ground to the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 2

1.3 Purpose of the study 3

1.4 Research objectives 3

1.5 Research questions 4

1.6 Hypothesis 4

1.7 Scope 5

1.8 Significance of the study 6

1.9 Operational Definitions of Key Terms 6

CHAPTER TWO  8

LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.1 Theories of Local Government 8

2.2 The implications of Local Governments 10

2.3 The Relationship between Local Governance and Good Governance. 13

2.4 The Significance for Good Governance at the Local Level 16

2.5 The rationale for local governments 18

CHAPTER THREE ........,,•...•• 21

METHODOLOGY 21

3.0 Research Design 21

3.1 Research Population 21

3.2 Sample Size 21

3.3 Sampling Procedure 22

3.4 Research Instruments 22

3.4.1 Questionnaires 22

3.4.2 Interview Guide 23

3.4.3 Focus Group discussions 23

3.4.4 Observation 24

3.5 Validity and Reliability 24

3.6 Data Gathering Procedures 24

3.7 Data Analysis 25

3.8 Ethical Considerations 25

3.9 Limitations of the Study 26

CHAPTER FOUR 27

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY 27

4.0 Introduction 27

4.1 Preliminary information 28

4.2 Conceptual Issues 32

1-.3 Effectiveness and Efficiency 33

4.5 Commitment of Government 48

4.6 Living Conditions 56

4.7 Public Opinion 61

CHAPTER FIVE ....... . .

SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 62

5.1 Introduction 62

5.2 Preliminary Information 62

5.3 Conceptual Issues 62

5.4 Effectiveness and efficiency 62

5.5 Relationship Between Local Government and Good Governance 63

5.6 Commitment of Government 63

5.7 Living Conditions 63

References 64


ABSTRACT 

Local governments for the last fifty years or so has tended to give the impression that local government is a pre-requisite for good governance. The argument has been that good governance involves a situation in which there is power sharing between the centre and the Sub-national units of governance in the decision making process. For many years’ proponents of local governance as a form of decentralization justified it in terms of its potential to contribute to local-self government, the assumption being that local self governmer.t, which in essence is what good governance is all about. The establishment of Jonglei state and the special attention given to it by the government of South Sudan was meant to improve the Social-economic conditions of the people and most importantly above all re-instate the rule of law and good governance among the several antagonistic tribes found in Jonglei state. Anecdotal findings however reveal that since 2008 to date the state is today at the peak of insecurity with over 1400 killed since 2009, abductions, killings and raiding still goes on. This creates a state of homeliness. The rate, at which these evils still prevails, creates a bleak future of not only the Jonglei state but the government of South Sudan at large. It also reveals how local governments have failed to address the expectations of their people. Under the expectancy theory, when people lose confidence and trust in a system, they resort to civil disobedience, which ultimately puts the existing government in a state of illegitimacy, thus putting the new independent state of Southern Sudan into question. The objective of the research is To establish the effectiveness and efficiency of Jonglei local government in enhancing good governance. To assess the relationship between local governments and good government in Jonglei state. To examine the commitment of the government of South Sudan toward the stability of Jonglei state. To analyze the living conditions of the people of Jonglei state. To discuss the public opinion of the people of Jonglei state about the government of South Sudan. Research adopt two sampling procedures. First, will be the purposive sampling, this employed to the already targeted respondents who are directly concerned about issues to do with local governments and good governance in Jonglei state. Random sampling was employed and administered to members of the general public. Questionnaires, interview guide, focus group discussions and observation was used. The collected data was coded, analyzed and scrutinized according to the themes developed out of the research objectives. The data was thematically analyzed basing on ‘through tabulation tables showing response, frequency and percentages. The main findings of the study was according to themes investigated as preliminary information, conceptual issues, effectiveness and efficiency, relationship between local governments and good governance, commitment of the government of south Sudan, and the living. The research find out that Jonglei local government never promoted good governance and that local people did not participate in choosing their own leaders. Jonglei local government was found to be corrupt and they never lived to expectations of the people. The living conditions were found to be low, yet the rate of unemployment was between 20-40%. The Central government was not committed towards creating stability in Jonglei state, and the level of stability was found to be low. Indeed most of the respondents wished to entrust their security with non government organizations.