Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence,
transformational leadership and project implementation using empirical evidence from NUSAF
projects in Pallisa District Local Government. The study was guided by four specific objectives
namely; to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and project implementation,
to determine the influence of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership, to establish
the relationship between transformational leadership and project implementation, and to determine
the mediating effect of transformational leadership on emotional intelligence and project
implementation. The study was grounded on relational competence theory. The study targeted 130
NUSAF projects, and a sample size of 97 projects were determined using Krejcies and Morgan
Table (1970). The sample was derived using simple random sampling. The study adopted a cross
sectional research design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Validity and
reliability were checked using expert judgment and Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient and all items
that scored a CVI and Cronbach’s alpha Coefficient above 0.5 were retained for subsequent
analysis. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression
analysis. The results revealed that emotional intelligence significantly influences project
implementation. The study findings further revealed that emotional intelligence influences
transformational leadership. However, the findings indicated no significant relationship between
transformational leadership and project implementation. The study findings also revealed no
mediating effect of transformational leadership on the relationship between emotional intelligence
and project implementation. The study concluded that although emotional intelligence improves
project implementation and transformational leadership, transformational leadership does not
affect project implementation, nor does it mediate emotional intelligence and project
implementation. The study therefore recommends that transformational leadership should be
integrated with other project leadership styles to improve project implementation and perhaps to
be able to mediate or moderate emotional intelligence and project implementation. The study
suggests that future academician should conduct another study on the mediating role of
transformational leadership on emotional intelligence and project implementation using either
NUSAF projects or other projects in different study context to determine if the results of this study
holds.
