The Role of NGOs in Fostering Social Economic Development of Women in Mbarara, Uganda A Case Study of Bugamba Sub-County, Mbarara District

Abstract

The study aimed at examining the role of NGOs in fostering social economic development of women in Mbarara, Uganda, a case study of Bugamba Sub County. The study was guided by three objectives which included to find out various factors contributing to rural \rwmcn~s social and economic empowerment in Mbarara, to find out the challenges affecting rural women’s social and economic empowerment and the relationship between NGOs roles and social economic development of women in Mbarara District The study was guided by a descriptive and case study design with a qualitative and quantitative approach used to gather information. The study further utilized both primary and secondary sources of data with simple and random sampling techniques. The findings established that both males and females participated in the research, 29.8% were male and 70.2% were females and also in the age bracket those that were under 25, 38.3% and those of 25-34 were 29.4% and finally those above 45 were 2% of the total sampled population. The first objective analyzed how illiteracy among rural women affects their economic empowerment in Mbarara District and the lindings established that numcracy had 25.4% cItxi compared to reading and writing that had 4 1.3%. The highly rated attribute in literacy was business management skills that were represented by 76.7%. The objective looked at how economic empowerment influences women development in Mbarara district and the findings in this regard show that participation is a major concern (70.2%) and also access to resources (61.5%). The third objective established the influence ol’ culture and women empowerment in Mbarara District and found that gender discrimination. gender attitude and self esteem were a major concern (83%). The study hence concluded that there is a relationship between adult literacy and rural economic empowerment as found by Rodgers (1994) and UNESCO (2013). The study hence recommended that there is need for awareness of the girl child about the essential basis ol’ cducation and ho~~ it can help transform the community into an economical developed society.