Abstract

The study aimed to establish the relationship between stakeholder participation and the management of highland water resources in Bududa District, Eastern Uganda. It was guided by the following objectives: 1) to establish the relationship between stakeholder participation in planning and the management of highland water resources; 2) to analyze the relationship between stakeholder participation in implementation and the management of highland water resources; and 3) to determine the relationship between stakeholder participation in monitoring and the management of highland water resources. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, with a sample size of 145 participants selected through simple random sampling; however, 125 responded, yielding a response rate of 86.2%. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to collect and analyze data. The findings indicated that: for Objective 1, there was a significant positive relationship between stakeholder participation in planning and water resource management (r = 0.471**, p < 0.01); for Objective 2, a significant positive relationship between stakeholder participation in implementation and water resource management (r = 0.419**, p < 0.01); and for Objective 3, a significant positive relationship between stakeholder participation in monitoring and water resource management (r = 0.425**, p < 0.01). This demonstrates that stakeholder participation in planning, implementation, and monitoring is strongly correlated with effective water resource management in Bududa District. Therefore, stakeholder involvement in these areas is essential for proper water resource management. The researcher recommended that stakeholders should be involved across all levels of participation, that training be inclusive, and that strategies for water conservation, abstraction, and equitable distribution be contextualized to ensure more effective management strategies.

Key words: Stakeholder, participation, management, Bududa Uganda.