Abstract:
The study was aimed to assess the practice and challenges of good governance in urban
service delivery in Sebeta town, oromia special zone of oromia regional state. The research
was conducted in Sebeta town municipality purposively selected by the researcher. The study
used descriptive survey research method by using mixed approach (quantitative and
qualitative). The respondents of the study were selected by using simple random sampling
and convenience technique. The study used sample sizes of 383 respondents among those 40
were the employees of the municipality and others are residents of the town. The secondary
data was collected from internet, the reports of the institution, magazines, journal articles
and others. Questionnaire was designed separately for households and service providers,
interview was designed for managers of different departments in the municipality and FGD
was employed for kebele leaders, all of them are the main source of the study. The data were
analysed by using percentage, frequency, tables, mean and standard deviation. The findings
of the study had shown that poor practice of implementing accountability, transparency,
participation, rule of law and efficiency. It was also found that prevalence of corruption,
bureaucracy, political interference, delays, incompetence, lack of funds, misuse of funds,
poor management and lack of commitment were identified as challenges of good governance.
Therefore, the study recommended that the town municipality should mainly focus on the
effectiveness of accountability and transparency. Additionally the municipality should
promote effective good governance through reducing the influence of the identified
challenges of good governance in the public sectors of the town
