Harriet Eseza Kisembo2025-11-042025-11-042025-10-27APA 7th Edition FormatRS22/MO6/004https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/2006This research report investigates the influence of different leadership styles -democratic, autocratic, and laissez-fair -on the administration of higher education, with a focus on mountains of the mountains of the Moon University. The study adopts a mixed method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to analyze how these leadership styles affect institutional management, staff motivation, and overall administrative effectiveness. Finding highlights that a balance application of leadership approaches enhances teamwork, innovation, and accountability within university settings. The report contributes to the understanding of leadership practices in Uganda's higher education institutions and provides actionable recommendations for improving administrative performance and staff engagement.Back ground; Globally Universities need to implement management procedures with the application of flexible leadership styles to improve the high education performance. The study focused on how leadership styles affect the management of higher education, particularly at Mountains of the Moon University (MMU). Purpose of the study: To examine how three different leadership philosophies; autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire affect different facets of university management. Methodology: Adopted a mixed cross-sectional explanatory sequential approach, addressing a population of 274 respondents, including Faculty heads and Deans, lecturers, and non-teaching personnel. Data collection methods include surveys and interviews, with analysis conducted using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Study findings: Findings indicated mixed perceptions on leadership styles adopted, majority of the respondents (58.1%) agreed democratic leadership positively influenced student behavior. (51.2%) in agreed on employees to remain at the university and (53.5%) disagreed on contributes positive attitude towards the institution. Most (53.5%) agreed autocratic leadership style guiding employees towards organizational goals, (55.8%) agreed it creates hostility, non-cooperation, and resentment toward administrators and 14.0% were unclear on connection between productivity monitoring. Majority (49.8%) disagreed laissez-faire leadership leads to their work loyalty or dedication and 40.5% disagreed on the style retains academic staff at MMU. Interview findings shown democratic leadership contributes to healthier organizational climate, interpersonal relationships and teamwork. Laissez-faire leadership aids monitoring staff compliance to new assignments and give way to innovative problem-solving and creativity. Autocratic leadership ensures uniformity, minimizes delays, and avoids confusion, which is crucial in achieving institutional goals. Conclusion: applying democratic leadership fosters inclusive innovation, adopting autocratic leadership achieves schedule compliance and discipline whereas Laissez-faire is useful in empowering highly skilled and motivated staff if balanced with clear expectations, and follow-ups. Recommendation; University administrators apply both democratic, autocratic and laissez- faire based on situational demand and results needed to be produced.enThesis