Establishing the relationship between religious support groups and community development in Ntandi Town Council in Bundibugyo District. A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background

Religious support groups play a vital role in fostering community development by promoting social cohesion, moral values, and collective action. This study aims to establish the relationship between religious support groups and community development in Ntandi Town Council, Bundibugyo District.

 Methodology

A descriptive, cross-sectional design was adopted, employing a mixed-methods approach that combined both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) sample size determination table, a sample of 234 respondents was selected. Stratified sampling was employed.  Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS Version 24.

 Results

The Majority of the respondents 59% were male, while 41% were female. 57% of respondents were married, 29% were single, 9% were divorced or separated, and 5% were widowed. Religious support groups play an active role in promoting spiritual and emotional well-being in the community (M = 4.60, SD = 0.66), indicating a strong consensus among respondents that prayer meetings are a core activity of religious organizations. Religious groups offer counseling for emotional or spiritual issues, M = 4.40 (SD = 0.78), demonstrating that most religious institutions provide regular spiritual counseling to their members. There was a strong positive correlation between religious support groups and community development (r = 0.614, p = 0.001), indicating that participation in religious activities significantly enhances access to social welfare services, health initiatives, and local development programs.

 Conclusion

Religious support groups play a significant role in promoting community development in Ntandi Town Council. Participation.

 Recommendation

Strengthening the capacity of religious institutions through training in community development and promoting sports groups through infrastructure investment, mentorship, and partnerships with NGOs.