Agonzibwa, Stephen2026-10-022026-10-022026-09-14https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/2296PhD DissertationThis study investigated Resource Mobilization Modalities and Their Influence on the Viability of Academic Programs in Private Universities in Fort Portal City. The study was guided by three objectives: (1) to evaluate how private universities in Fort Portal City engage with various stakeholders to mobilize resources for academic program viability; (2) to investigate the effectiveness of partnerships and collaborations in resource mobilization; and (3) to examine the effectiveness of existing resource allocation practices and their contribution to academic program viability. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The study was conducted at two private universities in Fort Portal City, Uganda. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and structured questionnaires targeting 80 purposively selected participants including Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs, Academic Registrars, University Secretaries, Finance Directors, Faculty Deans, and Heads of Departments. Ethical approval was granted by the Uganda Christian University Research Ethics Committee (UCUREC) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), followed by administrative clearance from the participating institutions. Key findings revealed that stakeholder engagement— especially involving alumni, NGOs, and government agencies—significantly enhances resource inflow and institutional legitimacy. Effective partnerships and collaborations emerged as critical drivers of academic sustainability, particularly when strategically aligned and mutually accountable. Moreover, financial mobilization practices were found to be over-reliant on tuition, posing risks to long-term viability in low-resource contexts. The study concludes that inclusive governance, transparent resource allocation, and strategic partnership management are essential for sustaining academic programs in private universities. Recommendations include diversifying income streams, institutionalizing participatory budgeting, and enhancing internal capacity to coordinate stakeholder relations. These findings contribute to the theoretical and practical understanding of sustainable university governance through the lenses of Stakeholder Theory, 15 Resource Dependence Theory, Resource Governance Theory, and the Institutional Capacity Model.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United Stateshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/Dissertation