Sector performance reporting in Uganda - from measurement to monitoring and management

Effective performance reporting is essential if countries, sectors and institutions are to know whether they are on track to achieve their objectives, and to provide information that can be acted upon to maximise performance levels. This paper charts the evolution of water and sanitation sector performance reporting in Uganda. This began with performance measurement of the status of the sector, became a more comprehensive mechanism for monitoring changes in performance and is moving towards an overall performance management system that will result in better sharing of good operational practices, strengthened policy making and improved resource allocation decisions. Key messages for other countries seeking to improve performance reporting include the need to measure a broad range of prioritized performance ‘themes’, to strengthen systems for collecting and triangulating this data, to build up performance trends and performance’ league’ tables, to develop capacity of the conduct of ‘in-depth’ and ‘value for money’ performance studies and to create mechanisms for the continual sharing of good operational practices.