School of Women and Gender Studies (SWGS) Collections
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ItemEmerging effects of elevating the Masaka municipality to city status on women’ entrepreneurship with in the city(Makerere University, 2026)The elevation of Masaka Municipality to city status on 1 July 2020 formed part of Uganda’s wider urbanization and decentralization agenda intended to strengthen local economic development, service delivery and administrative capacity. Although city creation can expand markets, infrastructure and institutional visibility, its benefits are not automatically genderequitable. Women entrepreneurs experience urban transformation through gendered access to finance, market space, safety, digital tools, unpaid care responsibilities and voice in decisionmaking. This study examined the emerging effects of Masaka’s elevation to city status on women’s entrepreneurship, focusing on new opportunities, changing business trends and challenges in the upgraded urban context. The study was guided by Anthony Giddens’ Structuration Theory and Liberal Feminist Theory. Structuration Theory explained the relationship between changing urban rules and resources and the agency of women entrepreneurs who adapt to, negotiate and may reshape those structures. Liberal Feminist Theory provided a gender-equity lens for assessing women’s access to resources, rights, participation and economic opportunities. A qualitative exploratory case-study design was used. Data were generated from 40 participants in Nyendo-Ssenyange and KatweButego divisions through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and document review. Participants were purposively selected to include women entrepreneurs, city officials, financial-sector actors, NGO/CBO representatives, local leaders and a small number of male entrepreneurs for comparative insight. Expert sampling referred to the deliberate selection of participants with specialized knowledge of city planning, business regulation, financial services or women’s economic empowerment. The findings indicated that city status was associated with improved road access, greater customer flow, increased business visibility, diversification, professionalization, digital adoption and wider participation by some women in market and community leadership. However, the benefits were uneven: women with stronger capital, education, networks, digital access and better-located premises benefited more than poorer women in informal or peripheral spaces. Persistent challenges included limited access to affordable finance, rising rents and taxes, inadequate secure storage, uneven infrastructure, digital exclusion, harassment, theft, spousal intimidation and unpaid care responsibilities. The study concludes that city status can enable women’s entrepreneurial agency only when urban structures are deliberately gender-responsive and inclusive. It recommends gender-responsive market infrastructure, accessible finance, digital-skills support, anti-harassment and security mechanisms, childcare-sensitive planning and institutionalized participation of women entrepreneurs in city decision-making.
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ItemExamining the gendered and socio-economic impact of refugee integration: a case study of Nakivaale Refugee Settlement(Makerere University, 2026)The study examines the gendered and socio-economic impacts of refugee integration in Nakivaale Refugee Settlement, Uganda‘s oldest and one of its largest refugee settlements. Uganda‘s progressive refugee policy framework grants refugees‘ rights to work, move, and access social services, yet the integration process remains complex and uneven, particularly when viewed through the lens of gender. While existing scholarship often treats refugees as a homogeneous group, this study highlights how men and women experience displacement and integration differently, shaped by structural inequalities, traditional roles, and intersecting vulnerabilities. The research employed an exploratory design combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 200 refugees was surveyed using structured questionnaires, while 20 key informant interviews and focus group discussions with male and female refugees provided deeper insights into gendered experiences. Thematic and narrative analysis of qualitative data was triangulated with descriptive and inferential statistics to capture both the breadth and depth of gendered integration dynamics. Findings reveal significant disparities in employment, access to social services, and social inclusion. Men were more likely to access income-generating opportunities in construction, farming, and petty trade, though many reported stresses linked to cultural expectations of being providers. Women‘s livelihoods were predominantly informal and home-based, constrained by caregiving responsibilities, mobility restrictions, and gender-based violence. Their reproductive health needs were underserved, and barriers such as inadequate facilities, stigma, and lack of resources worsened their vulnerabilities. Access to education was also gendered, with girls disproportionately affected by early marriage, pregnancy, and lack of menstrual health support. Despite these barriers, women displayed resilience by forming savings groups and community networks that served both economic and psychosocial functions. The study also uncovered broader socio-economic impacts of refugee integration on host communities. While refugee presence stimulated local markets, increased demand for goods, and created new opportunities, particularly for women traders, male hosts often perceived refugees as competitors in scarce labor markets, fostering tensions and exclusionary attitudes. Social cohesion outcomes were mixed, with women from both communities (refugees and host) showing greater openness to collaboration compared to men. Leadership and decision-making structures remained largely male-dominated, with women marginalized from formal representation despite their active roles in household and community survival. The study concludes that refugee integration is a gendered process with differentiated opportunities and constraints for men and women. It recommends scaling up gender-sensitive policies and programs, including tailored livelihood support, childcare provision, reproductive health services, and inclusive governance mechanisms that strengthen women‘s participation. By foregrounding gender, this study contributes to more equitable refugee integration strategies that enhance the resilience and well-being of both refugees and host communities in Nakivaale and similar contexts.
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ItemThe effect of gender norms on women’s participation in maize marketing in Nwoya District(Makerere University, 2026)The study examined the effect of gender norms on women’s participation and decision-making in maize marketing in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. Specifically, it sought to (1) examine how gender norms affect women’s access to maize markets, (2) explore the gendered division of roles and responsibilities in maize production and marketing within local value chains, and (3) identify challenges and opportunities for promoting women’s meaningful engagement in maize marketing through gender-responsive strategies and interventions. A mixed-methods convergent parallel design was employed, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were collected from 62 respondents (women), whereas qualitative data were obtained through 4 focus group discussions and 10 key informant interviews with male marketers, community leaders, extension officers, and market officials. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, whereas qualitative data were thematically analyzed to understand the influence of social norms, roles, and perceptions on women’s participation in maize marketing. Findings revealed that women dominated maize production but faced restricted participation in marketing activities requiring mobility, negotiation, and public engagement due to entrenched gender norms. Men were perceived as primary negotiators and traders, limiting women’s bargaining power and economic autonomy. Household and social support, group membership, and personal savings were key enablers, whereas low market prices, lack of transport, limited storage, and inadequate business training constrained women’s engagement. Participation in cooperatives and producer groups improved women’s agency and decision-making, suggesting that collective action can partially mitigate gender-based barriers. The study concluded that gender norms continue to shape women’s access, decision-making, and profitability in maize marketing in Nwoya district, despite growing recognition of women’s capacity to participate. Interventions targeting social norms, practical market skills, access to transport and finance, and cooperative mobilization are critical to improving women’s economic empowerment and equitable participation in maize value chains. The study recommended further research to examine the long-term impacts of women’s participation in maize marketing on household economic outcomes and broader community development.
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ItemFemale headed households and their coping mechanisms in peri urban Uganda : a case study of Busukuma Sub-County Wakiso district(Makerere University, 2016)The purpose of this study was to establish the coping mechanisms employed by female household heads in managing the socio-economic challenges they face. To examine attitudes and perceptions of community members towards female headed household and explore the strategies and opportunities that Female Headed Households can use to build on their livelihood. The study was conducted in Busukuma Sub County, Wakiso district. The study objectives were to to examine attitudes and perceptions of community members towards female headed household, find out the socio-economic challenges faced by female headed households in providing for their families, to find out how female headed households deal with the socio-economic challenges, and to suggest possible interventions for improving socio-economic conditions of female headed households. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods, qualitative data captured views and opinions of respondents in regard to their perceptions, attitudes and practices of female headed households while quantitative data captured and provided gender disaggregated data. In-depth and semi-structured interviews and observation formed an important source of information. The targeted population majorly consisted of female heads of household. Purposive method was used in selecting study area there was many female headed households languishing in poverty and the researcher was interested in knowing their survival mechanism. Purposive sampling method was used in selecting key informants. A sample of 92 respondents was selected. Data collection tools such as in-depth interview, interview guides, observation guides, Focus Group Discussions, open ended or closed ended questionnaires directly were administered to the different respondents. The study found out that the most pressing challenges faced by female headed households in supporting their families are; lack of basic needs. A big proportion of female heads 71.1% and 70% lacked school fees and scholastic materials for the children. Others lacked medical care, had no capital for income generating activities and lacked access to productive resources. Despite the challenges females heading households were coping by getting support from relatives and friends, borrowing money from individuals, women groups, microfinance institutions, money lenders, selling labour, engaging in non-formal trade, working hard, prioritizing expenditure while small numbers engaged in commercial sexual relationships which is risky. The study recommends strengthening mobilization, sensitization and support to female headed households with income generating activities and other self-sustaining projects so as to be empowered economically. This should be done by the key stakeholders in the community, district and other government agencies specific to gender and social economic development.
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ItemExamining the role of men and boys in prevention of gender based violence: the case of Omugo Subcounty, Terego - Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a persistent challenge despite the implementation of multiple community-based interventions. This study examined male engagement strategies in GBV prevention in Omugo Subcounty, focusing on existing interventions, the involvement of men and boys, and the effectiveness of these approaches. Guided by Nego-Feminism and Hegemonic Masculinity theories, the study employed a qualitative research design involving key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Findings revealed that community- based interventions such as awareness campaigns, family mediation, and local by-laws have contributed to increased reporting and community sensitization. However, exclusive male-targeted programs remain limited. Interventions engaging men and boys through role model initiatives, peer education, and structured dialogue platforms were reported to foster behavioral change, promote shared household responsibility, and challenge harmful masculine norms. Nonetheless, entrenched patriarchal beliefs, limited outreach, and insufficient long-term monitoring constrain sustainability and scale. The study concludes that effective GBV prevention requires gender-transformative approaches that actively engage men and boys while addressing structural and cultural barriers. Drawing directly from these findings, the study recommends scaling up exclusive male-focused programs, institutionalizing long-term monitoring mechanisms for role model initiatives, strengthening collaboration with clan and religious leaders to address normative resistance, and integrating gender-transformative life skills education into schools. These recommendations are grounded in the empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, emphasizing negotiated community engagement and the transformation of dominant masculinities as practical pathways toward sustainable GBV prevention.