The Leadership Pipeline Revisited: Gender Roles and Women’s Careers in Uganda’s Logistics Industry

Nabiira Nantongo; Shafiq Mugerwa; Thurayya Namugerwa; Jamila Nansimbe

doi:10.65773/tscr.2.2.137

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Information Fusion

Article Type: Research Article

Issue: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026)

Published: 24 May 2026

Pages: 28-49

Highlight

This manuscript addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining the intersection of gender roles, work-life balance, and leadership progression within the logistics sector of Uganda, a developing country context. The topic is highly relevant, timely, and
contributes valuable empirical evidence from an underrepresented region.
The theoretical framework, integrating Gender Role Theory, Role Congruity Theory, and the "Leaky Pipeline" metaphor, is robust and well-applied.
The study employs a quantitative cross-sectional design using PLS-SEM, which is appropriate for predictive theory testing. The data analysis section is detailed, and the reporting of reliability and validity metrics meets standard academic expectations.

How to Cite

Nantongo, N., Mugerwa, S., Namugerwa, T., & Nansimbe, J. (2026). The Leadership Pipeline Revisited: Gender Roles and Women’s Careers in Uganda’s Logistics Industry. Transnational Supply Chain Research, 2(2), 28-49. https://doi.org/10.65773/tscr.2.2.137

Authors

Nabiira Nantongo ¹ ^*

,

Shafiq Mugerwa ² ,

Thurayya Namugerwa ³ ,

Jamila Nansimbe ⁴

¹ Makerere University Business School, Faculty of Procurement and logistics Management, Kampala, Uganda

² Management Information Systems, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda

³ Department of Law, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda

⁴ Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Background:Women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles within the logistics sector, particularly in developing countries where gendered caregiving expectations remain deeply entrenched. This study examines how gender roles and responsibilities influence women’s progression through leadership pipelines in Uganda’s logistics sector and investigates the mediating role of work-life balance. Methods:A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted using data collected from 298 logistics professionals in Uganda. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and structural relationships were assessed prior to hypothesis testing.Results:The findings indicate that gender roles and responsibilities were not significantly associated with women's leadership progression through a direct pathway. However, work-life balance was found to be positively and significantly associated with the women's leadership pipeline and fully mediated the relationship between gender roles and responsibilities and leadership progression. The results suggest that gendered responsibilities influence women's leadership outcomes indirectly through their impact on work-life balance. These findings highlight the importance of work-life integration as a key mechanism supporting women's participation and continuity within leadership pathways in Uganda's logistics sector. Conclusions:The study concludes that gender roles and responsibilities do not directly predict women's progression through leadership pathways in Uganda's logistics sector. Instead, work-life balance emerged as a significant factor in women's leadership progression and a key mechanism by which gendered responsibilities influence leadership outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of organisational practices that support work-life integration, flexibility, and leadership sustainability in operational environments characterised by demanding work schedules and mobility requirements.Significance:By providing evidence from Uganda's male-dominated logistics sector, the study contributes to the growing literature on women's leadership in underrepresented African contexts. The findings advance understanding of how work-life balance shapes women's leadership progression and offer practical, organisational, and policy insights for promoting gender-inclusive leadership pathways within operational and logistics-intensive industries.

Keywords:

gender roles, unpaid care work, women’s leadership, work-life balance, leadership pipeline, Uganda, logistics sector

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