Corruption and poorly informed policy decisions continue to undermine the effectiveness of Operations Research (OR) in Uganda, according to Ronnet Atukunda, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
Speaking at the 17th International Operations Research Society of Eastern Africa conference in Kampala, Atukunda emphasized that many government policies are driven more by political considerations and personal biases than by data-driven insights derived from OR.
“How many of the policies we have look like they are being driven by data and not by people’s feelings?” Atukunda asked.
She highlighted the Parish Development Model (PDM), questioning the rationale behind the uniform allocation of Shs1 million per household. “Did everyone need Shs1 million? What if the rolex vendor needed Shs300,000 and the maize farmer needed Shs2 million, while a SACCO dealing in fish needed Shs10 million? What guided that decision?”
The PDM, incorporated into Uganda’s National Development Plans, mid-term reviews, and end-of-term evaluations, aims to strengthen production, productivity, value addition, and service delivery at the parish level. Beneficiaries receive a revolving fund intended to boost household income and welfare.
Atukunda stressed that successful policy implementation requires a combination of quantitative analysis, qualitative insights, stakeholder engagement, and realistic expectations. She warned, however, that even the most sophisticated OR models cannot succeed in the presence of corruption.
“Whereas we want to rely on data to tell us where to go, corruption may distort data and inflate costs or figures. You will never optimize dishonesty, and it doesn’t matter how good your algorithm is. If the inputs are wrong, the algorithm will collapse. They say data never lies, but what if the data itself is manipulated? Policies must be measurable, traceable, and adaptable,” she said.
Defining an algorithm as a set of well-defined instructions designed to solve a problem, Atukunda noted that while OR models can indicate the most efficient paths for national development, they cannot transform lives without accountability and moral courage in implementation.
Deputy Principal of MUBS, Ass. Prof. Rachel Mindra Katoroogo, highlighted the need to translate research into tangible societal benefits. “We want to work with communities and industry to commercialize products from operational research. The challenge is translating research into impactful solutions for societal problems,” she said.
Prof. Gituro Wainaina, a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Department of Management Science, emphasized that OR is vital for shaping trade policies. He encouraged African countries to focus on production and value addition for domestic and international markets.
“The world has changed. While there is free trade, countries must produce goods for export. How can a truck leave Kampala for Mombasa empty? We must stop sending raw materials to Europe. Instead of exporting cocoa beans, we should export chocolate; instead of coffee beans, we should export coffee. Adding value before export is essential,” Wainaina said.
The conference, themed “Operations Research for Sustainable Development amid Emerging Technologies,” brought together experts from across Eastern Africa to explore how OR can drive development, improve policymaking, and promote innovation across the region.