Empowering Women and Youth through Self-reliance Programs: Insights from Kyanyakatura Archdeaconry, Uganda

This study assessed the extent to which self-reliance programs influence socio-economic empowerment among women and youth in Kyanyakatura Archdeaconry, West Ankole Diocese, Uganda. Employing a quantitative research approach, the study utilized a correlational research design to examine the relationship between church-led self-reliance initiatives and key empowerment indicators. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from a stratified random sample of 225 respondents, including church elders, priests, lay readers, women, and youth, with the sample size determined using the Smith formula (1967) to ensure statistical validity. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and regression analysis) were applied to analyze the data. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between self-reliance programs and socio-economic empowerment (β₁ = 0.441, *p* < 0.001), indicating that these initiatives substantially enhance economic independence among participants. Respondents' perceptions further reinforced this conclusion, with above-average agreement on the programs' effectiveness in improving livelihoods. The results suggest that the Church of Uganda’s emphasis on self-reliance initiatives is well-founded and should be sustained or expanded to maximize impact. However, the study also highlights the need for further research to examine interactive effects between different empowerment programs (e.g., education, microfinance, vocational training) to optimize holistic socio-economic development strategies. This study contributes to the broader discourse on faith-based interventions in development by providing empirical evidence on the efficacy of self-reliance programs in rural Uganda. The methodological rigor including stratified sampling, validated statistical techniques, and triangulated findings enhances the reliability of the conclusions. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts and comparative analyses across different regions to strengthen generalizability. Policymakers and development practitioners can leverage these insights to design integrated, community-driven empowerment models that align with Uganda’s National Development Plan III (2020/21–2024/25) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).