Impact of Foreign Aid through NGOs for Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in Central Uganda. A Case Study of Caritas International - Lugazi Catholic Diocese

ABSTRACT 

The aim of this research report was to find out whether sustainable development can actually be realized when aid is passed through NGOs. Three objectives were used during the study. That is; to find out the various forms aid received, to identify the best forms of aid, and to find out how the various forms of aid complement each other to lead to rural development Caritas an international NGO working in Lugazi Catholic diocese in Uganda was used as a case study. Data was collected and analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. A study population of 200 respondents were served with questionnaires and a sample size determined using Collombat’s formula. Interview guides were used to ascertain the questionnaire responses. Collected data was processed and fed into SPSS for advanced analysis and interpretation. The findings show that foreign aid through NGOs actually lead to development contrary to previously held doubts on its relevance to boost development. Data interpretation yielded the best form of aid is capacity building; and that different types of aid work better while are in complementary with each other. Governments, NGOs and other development partners need to work together to jointly address rural development needs. Since aid usually has conditions, benefits to both the recipients and the donors need to be measured quantitatively in order to assess its urgency for sustainable development.

3.3 Study Population .29

3,4 Sample Size 29

3.5 Data collection methods 30

3,5.1 Instruments 30

Questionnaires 30

ii. Interview Guide 30

iii. Observation 31

3.5.2 Sources of Data 31

i. Primary Data 31

ii. Secondary Data 32

3.6 Validity 32

3.7 Data Analysis and Quality Control 32

3.8 Validity of Instruments 33

3.9 Ethical Considerations 34

3.10 Limitations of the Study 34

CHAPTER FOUR 36

4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 36

4.1 Introduction 36

4.2 Demographic Profiles of the Respondents 37

4.2.1 Gender .37

4.2.2 Age

4.2.3 Marital Status 37

4.3 Choice between the kinds of Aid and Development 40

4.4 Type of Aid Administered by Caritas 42

4.5 The Best Forms of Aid 43

4,6 Uses of Development Aid 44

4.6.1 Agricultural Development 44

4.6.2 Capacity Building 48

4.6.3 General Development 49

4.7 The Role of Caritas in Lugazi Diocese 51

4.7.1 Economic Empowerment 52

4.7.2 Food Production 53

4.7.3 Health Improvement 53

4.8 Necessity of Foreign Aid 54

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 55

5.1 Introduction 55

5.2 Gender and Choice of Aid Type 55

5.3 The Best form of Aid .58

5.4 Conclusions 59

5.5 Recommendations to Stakeholders 62

5.5.1 Host Governments 62

5.5.2 Donors 62

5.5,3 Local Community 63

5.6 Recommendations for further Research 63

REFERENCES 65

APPENDICES 69

APPENDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE 69

APPENDIX II: THE INTERVIEW GUIDE 74

APPENDIX III: TRANSMITTAL LETTER 76