The Role of the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration in Promoting Good Governance in Africa: A Comparative Analysis on Uganda and South Africa

The African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration (the Charter) was adopted ) by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (the AU Assembly) on 31 January 2011 and came into force on 23 July 2016. The Charter is the first binding legal instrument adopted by member states of the AU with the objective of comprehensively confronting all the frailties that have plagued the African public service and administration. A major drawback to the Charter is the lack of track record for its effective application and implementation which could possibly best expedite its vast continental ratification, implementation and effectiveness. Hence the absence of established benchmarks on the Charter’s useful role necessitates pioneering efforts which would demonstrate its significance in the promotion of good governance. This work therefore critically analyses the role of the Charter in promoting good governance in Uganda and South Africa, focusing on the complex but a symbiotic correlation between public service ethics, professionalism and political governance.