Women, business management and development : the case for Uganda’s enterprises

Advancing women into decision-making spheres of public life remains a development agenda. Despite increasing numbers of women in the labour market, their representation in decision-making spheres has stayed low. In SubSaharan Africa, employment at the population level in 2005 stood at 58.9 percent and in 2013 at 59.5 percent. Also, there have been improvements in employment structure, with a reduction of 4.8 percent in the share of women employed in agriculture and an increase of 4.2 percent and 0.5 percent for services and manufacturing, respectively. However, the share of women in management is 26 percent compared to men at 74 percent in 2013. This research aims to investigate the determinants of the development of women in high management roles in Uganda. Our scope is restricted to business companies, particularly those engaged in manufacturing, retailing, and services. The inquiry applies a probit estimator to data from the World Bank's Business Survey. Findings reveal the firm's age; female ownership, and if that firm falls under these industrial divisions: garments, textiles, retail, machinery, equipment, and chemicals encourage firms' willingness to take on a female manager. On the other hand, business environment influences of corruption, tax administration problems, customs and trade control procedures discourage firms from hiring female managers. The policy implications and lessons of these results are discussed. These policies are directed at skills development, especially for the garments, chemicals, machinery, and equipment sectors; strong business collective action; and efforts for strengthening firm survival and increasing penalties for illicit behaviour.