Effects of Women Economic Empowerment on Household Wellbeing in Uganda: A Case Study of Kishasha Parish in Mbarara District.

Abstract

MUTAKOOHA BARUNGI GERALD (2014/MO92/20005) Effects of Women Economic Empowerment on Household Wellbeing in Uganda: A Case Study of Kishasha Parish in Mbarara District. This study investigated the effect of women economic empowerment on household wellbeing in Kishasha parish in Biharwe sub-county within Mbarara district. It was specifically set to find out the effect of material outcome, perceptual outcome and relational outcome of women economic empowerment on household well-being. The study used a correlational cross-sectional survey design in which data was collected using questionnaires from 101 women each from a different household. It was found that most women had attained positive changes in level of capital invested (71.3%), earned income from the garden, business and herding (78.2%) among others. The study found that these women had attained a moderate level of economic empowerment in terms of material outcome (Mean = 3.61, SD = 0.87), perceptual outcome (Mean = 3.80, S.D = 0.78) and relational outcome (Mean = 3.74, S.D = 0.79). It found a significantly moderate positive correlation between material outcome and household wellbeing (r =0.514, p = 0.00 < 0.05), significantly weak positive relationship between perceptual outcome and household well-being(r = 21 0.329, p = 0.001< 0.05) and a significantly weak correlation between relational outcome and household well-being (r = 0.358, p = 0.000 < 0.05). The study concluded among others that improvements in material outcome, perceptual outcome and relational outcomes of women economic empowerment improved household well-being in terms of nutrition, health and education given their respective positive relationship. The study recommended among others government through its line Ministry of Education should design and implement education training programmes geared towards improving accessibility of education to the women and the Non-Governmental Organisations should design appropriate programmes that help sensitise the society about the need to believe in women and thus support their livelihood efforts if household well-being is to be improved. Key Words: Women Economic Empowerment, Household Wellbeing ,Mbarara District.