Breaking Barriers in Male-Dominated Sectors: The Role of Industry Gender Composition and Context in Shaping Women’s Decision-Making Engagement in Uganda

<ns3:p>Background Women’s participation in decision-making within Uganda’s logistics sector remains limited despite global and national commitments to gender equality. The logistics industry is largely male-dominated, with women often facing structural and socio-cultural barriers that restrict access to leadership opportunities. Guided by Social Role Theory and Critical Mass Theory, this study explores how the broader industry environment and gender representation dynamics shape women’s engagement in decision-making processes within this sector. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, targeting professionals from private logistics companies, industry associations, and government regulatory agencies. A total of 298 valid responses were obtained. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in SmartPLS to test hypothesised relationships among industry context, industry gender composition, and women’s engagement in decision-making. Results Findings reveal that both industry context and industry gender composition exert significant and positive effects on women’s engagement in decision-making. Furthermore, industry gender composition mediates the relationship between industry context and women’s engagement, implying that higher female representation within the industry reduces tokenism and legitimises women’s leadership participation. Conclusion The study extends the application of Social Role and Critical Mass Theory to Uganda’s logistics sector, highlighting that structural inclusivity and gender-balanced representation are critical enablers of women’s decision-making participation. The findings practically call for gender-responsive policies, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive recruitment strategies to build a sustainable pipeline of female leaders, thereby advancing national goals of gender equality and inclusive economic development.</ns3:p>