An Investigation on the Role of Group Support Programmes as Avenues for Generation of Sustainable Social Capital of Group Members in Kanungu District- Uganda

The study set out to authenticate the capacity of Group Support Programmes (GSPs) in promoting sustainable social capital of group members that has been hitherto less attended by many scholars. Despite their existence for some good time, academics have not paid adequate attention to the importance of Group Support Programmes in the enhancement of sustainable social capital of group members, specifically in Kanungu District, Uganda. The GSPs aim at fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where members can build meaningful connections, share experiences, and leverage each other’s strengths to collectively achieve their goals, thereby enhancing their social capital through active participation and collaboration within the group. Consequently, this study investigates a set of three aspects, viz. the motives for joining these groups, different initiatives by these groups, and the effectiveness of the initiatives in realizing sustainable social capital by group members. The study was grounded in social capital theory, which is rich in social sciences, and an exploratory qualitative study of Group Support Programmes in Kanungu District, Uganda was employed. The selection of Kanungu District and three GSPs (Bataka, Boda, and Artisan Groups) was done purposively, and data were gathered through focus group discussions and unstructured interviews. Data was analyzed through content analysis, establishing the emerging themes that were presented descriptively and with the support of narrations to give authentic value. The study's findings show that Self Help Groups (SHGs) have contributed significantly to the creation of social capital, which is regarded as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development broadly. The current study makes it clear that the GSPs in Kanungu District have played a significant role in the social/cultural, individual, and family empowerment of members, which has been accomplished through a variety of channels, such as social cohesiveness, self-esteem, and teamwork. Therefore, this study suggests that policymakers and Group Support Programs create shared goals because GSPs are a community of interest that believes that collaborating closely to achieve shared goals builds social capital. For a smooth working relationship and problems to be resolved through group action, mutual understanding and cooperation among the members must be further improved. Efforts should be made to create forums and social relationships among non-GSP members in order to support the growth of any trust-based groups or networks. Keywords: Group Support Programmes, Social capital, Participation, Collaboration, Mutual Support