Determinants of staff participation in the Makerere University Joint Christian Staff Fellowship

Abstract

Although Spirituality is necessary in the workplace, the number of people attending the Makerere University Joint Christian Staff Fellowship (MUJCSF) has continued to decline. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of those attending MUJCSF have never exceeded 30 despite efforts to encourage staff to attend. The aim of this research was therefore to identify factors that encourage or hinder, participation of Makerere University staff in the MUJCSF. To gather the necessary information, I reviewed Makerere University information on the website, policies and guidelines on Workplace Christian fellowships, and administered both survey questionnaires and interviews among Makerere University Christian staff. Results obtained indicate that although Makerere University does not specifically state its position on Spirituality, there are designated places of worship and there is information on the website regarding places of worship, their locations and times of worship. Information gathered from the respondents indicates that there are no hindrances to Christian worship from Management. Regarding the individual determinants, correlation analysis for strength and direction of the relationship between selected independent variables (gender, age, Education level, Marital status, religious affiliation and Duration at Makerere University) and staff participation (dependent variable) showed a weak to moderate relationship. Results on the attitude of respondents towards workplace Christian fellowships and MUJCSF, showed they had a positive attitude and hence this is not a hinderance to staff participation in MUJCSF. Results on the MUJCSF determinants showed that limited information about MUJSCF, its vision, mission and inadequate publicity of MUJCSF activities, could be a hinderance. In addition, the venue might be a hinderance given its location from some colleges, location in the premises of the Anglican church and the lack of equipment. Most respondents said the MUJCSF is relevant and hence this is not hinderance but can be improved by consulting the members. Furthermore, the time designated for the MUJCSF is unintentionally interfered with by other University activities and personal engagements. Basing on these results MUJCSF program-related determinants are the biggest hinderance to staff participation in MUJCSF and therefore to improve staff participation, MUJCSF needs to address the hinderances mentioned.