Analysis of Physical Asset Management Stakeholders in the Local Governments

Abstract

Physical asset Management is of significant importance for effective service delivery in local governments. In the local governments, physical assets are managed as public utilities in providing quality services to the stakeholders under ‘public value’ regulations. For this matter, managers of local governments are enjoined to balance public values motives when managing physical assets under their care. Besides creating value in the physical asset during its use, maintenance, renewal and disposal, local government managers are obliged to balance the interest of all the stakeholders. The stakeholders are entitled to enjoy flawless, safe and secure services with the aid of excellent physical assets. Unfortunately, a review of the performance benchmarks of local governments in Uganda reveals lots of ambiguity on who the stakeholders of physical asset management are. Yet, physical asset management is a complex and collaborative phenomenon with diverse stakeholders each with differing objectives. Upon failure to achieve these objectives, physical asset management would be rendered ineffective. This paper identifies public local community and central government stakeholder groups as critical in the management of physical assets in the Local Government. I discuss the implications of the findings and develop a model for a comprehensive engagement of stakeholders for effective physical asset management in the local governments.