Abstract:
This study assessed the relationship between employee leadership skills and public service delivery in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda, addressing a critical gap in the literature that has largely overlooked leadership development in the Ugandan healthcare context. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the study adopted correlational and cross-sectional research designs within a quantitative research approach. From a target population of 982, a sample size of 284 was calculated using Yamane’s formula, with respondents selected through stratified random, proportionate, and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire structured on a five-point Likert scale, while a pilot study involving 28 participants at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital tested the instrument’s validity and reliability. Both descriptive and inferential statistics guided the analysis, and the findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between employee leadership skills and service delivery. The study concluded that enhancing leadership skills among healthcare employees is essential for strengthening service delivery in public hospitals. It recommended targeted leadership development programmes, continuous professional training, and structured mentorship initiatives to build leadership capacity across all levels of healthcare staff. The study is significant to policy as it provides evidence to support the integration of leadership training into human resource strategies and health sector reforms in Uganda, ensuring that employee development aligns with service delivery goals. Its contribution to knowledge lies in contextualising the application of transformational leadership theory within a Ugandan healthcare setting, offering empirical evidence that leadership skills are a critical determinant of effective service delivery in regional referral hospitals.