Abstract: This study investigated the Influence of Socio-political Factors on Women Involvement in Leadership in Government-owned and Church-owned Universities in North Kivu Province (DRC). The researcher employed both quantitative and qualitative methods and the research design was descriptive- comparative. The study selected all the administrators of 16 institutions of those sub-conferences of Butembo and Beni. The target population for this study were 16 universities of higher learning of North Kivu Provinces of Democratic Republic of Congo. The researcher used primary data obtained from questionnaire, interview and observation checklist. This study used three research instruments: questionnaire, interview guide and a check list. Thereafter, data was analyzed with the help of SPSS. Level of education, management style and criteria for appointing are very influential on women involvement in university leadership (2.50 – 3.49 very influential). Politics and social cultures are slightly influential on women involvement in university leadership (1.50 – 2.49 slightly influential). There is no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between government and church-owned universities in how educational qualifications affect women’s leadership. There is a statistically significant difference in the influence of management style on women involvement in university leadership between government owned and church owned universities (p-value of 0.009). There is no statistically significant difference in the influence of level of education (p=0.193), political factors (p=0.128), criteria for appointment (p = 0.791) and cultural factors (p = 0.348) on women involvement in university leadership between government owned and church owned universities.

Abstract: The proportion of women in school administration remains a worldwide major educational concern, especially since women are more numerous in the teaching career and yet less represented in school leadership. This study investigated the status of women involvement in in Government-owned universities and Church-owned universities leadership in North Kivu Province, DRC. The researcher employed both quantitative and qualitative methods and the research design was descriptive-comparative. The study selected all the administrators of 17 institutions of those sub-conferences of Butembo and Beni. The target population for this study were 16 universities of higher learning of North Kivu Provinces of Democratic Republic of Congo. The researcher used primary data obtained from questionnaire, interview and observation checklist. This study usedself-administered questionnaire. Thereafter, data was analyzed with the help of SPSS. The study established that the church owned universities, had a good representation of women leadership (2.50 – 3.49 good representation) as compared to the government owned universities having a fair representation (1.50 – 2.49 fair representation). University ownership whether government or church does not significantly affect women involvement in university leadership within the sampled institutions(p-value of 0.183). The study recommended that while church-owned universities show relatively better representation, both church and government institutions should adopt proactive gender equity strategies to ensure balanced leadership representation. Since ownership type does not significantly influence women’s leadership involvement, a unified framework addressing gender equity should be implemented across all universities, focusing on shared structural and cultural challenges.