THE ROLE OF DECENTRALIZATION OF AUTHORITY ON SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF CITIZENS A CASE OF CITIZENS IN NYAKALIRO SECTOR OF RWAMAGANA DISTRICT

Abstract

The study conducted aims to find out the role of decentralization of authority on socioeconomic development of citizens in Nyakaliro sector, Rwamagana district. the study specific objectives are Assess the influences of political decentralization on socioeconomic development indicators such as income levels, access to public services, and community engagement. Examine the impact of administrative decentralization on the efficiency of public service delivery, educational attainment, healthcare access, and local economic activity in Nyakaliro sector. To Investigate the extent to which fiscal decentralization affects the allocation and utilization of financial resources such as infrastructure quality, local business growth, and poverty reduction in Nyakaliro sector the study employs the mixture of qualitative and quantitative design, simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the sample while questionnaire, interview and documentation were used in collecting the data while descriptive statistical analysis and thematic analysis were used in analyzing the data. Regarding on socioeconomic development of the citizens based on decentralization of authority and, the study finds effectiveness of decentralization to promote socioeconomic development and also support participation of the citizens when decentralization is applied. On the effects of accessing decentralization initiatives such as political decentralization initiatives, administrative decentralization, fiscal decentralization and IREMBO known as service delivery decentralization." This form of decentralization involves distributing the management and delivery of public services to local or specialized entities to make them more accessible and efficient. the study finds that it strengthens social ties and cooperation and enhances the ability to secure positive and supportive ideas from community engagement. The study finds the challenges faced by decentralization of authority on socioeconomic development of the citizens in implication of policies formulated by government that can benefit the local community, the study finds inadequate participation of citizens and communicates barriers between program implementors and communities’ participation as a result of decentralization. The study recommends that nowadays a decentralization is needed to achieve beneficial socioeconomic development.