Publications

This study was intended to establish the relationship between empowerment and womenparticipation in community development in Lukuli and Kansanga parishes of MakindyeDivision in Kampala. To achieve this, the empowerment and participation levels, differencesin empowerment and participation levels by demographic factors, and the relationshipbetween empowerment and women participation, were looked at. This study adopted adescriptive correlation research design using a quantitative approach. A target population of172 and a sample size of 84 were used. Choice of respondents was by purposive and simplerandom sampling. To gather data, self-administered questionnaires and a face sheet wereused. During analysis, frequency and percentage distribution were used in relation to theprofile of respondents while the mean was used to compute both the levels of empowermentand participation of respondents in community development. Pearson’s correlationcoefficient was used to establish the relationship between empowerment and womenparticipation in community development. Regarding level of empowerment, there wasaveragely a satisfactory control over resources and most respondents owned land. However,freedom of decision on income use was very low. Participation levels were highest in politics;however freedom of choice of candidates in voting was very low. At household level,participation was generally low (average mean=2.4) and most respondents did not take anactive role in household activities. In decision making, at least most respondents weremembers of an administrative committee however, many did not attend meetings. There wasno significant difference in levels of empowerment of respondents by demographic factorsother than employment status. The study also showed no significant difference in levels ofparticipation of respondents by demographic factors. There was however a significantrelationship between empowerment and women participation. Conclusively, the studyrejected the first null hypothesis that “there is no significant relationship betweenempowerment and women participation in community development; and the second nullhypothesis that “there is no significant difference in levels of empowerment by demographicfactors”. The third null hypothesis; that ‘there is no significant relationship in difference inlevels of participation by demographic factors” was accepted. The researcher recommendedthat; NGOs and CBOs embark on sensitization programs that teach the essence of freedom inrelation to development; Faith leaders incorporate aspects of equality into their teachings;Policy makers advocate for policies that directly enhance women economic statuses; and thatthe government of Uganda, through the concerned ministries, improves the existingeducation policies while paying more attention to educating more women country wide sinceeducation enhances employment opportunities