Community participation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) is widely advocated in policy, yet empirical evidence on how specific dimensions of decision-making involvement affect DRR outcomes remains limited in rural African contexts. This study examines the disaggregated impact of three decision-making involvement constructs planning involvement, design involvement, and critical decision-making on corresponding dimensions of DRR: enhanced resilience & preparedness, reduction in casualties, and sustainability of DRR initiatives. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting data from a stratified random sample of 306 DRR stakeholders (local government officials, community leaders, and residents) in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and simple linear regression in SPSS. Results revealed strong positive relationships: planning involvement significantly predicted enhanced resilience & preparedness (β = .58, p < .001), design involvement best predicted reduction in casualties (β = .52, p < .001), and critical decision-making most strongly predicted sustainability of DRR initiatives (β = .61, p < .001). The models explained substantial variance (R² = .48 to .57). The study concludes that community decision-making involvement is not monolithic but comprises distinct dimensions that differentially influence DRR outcomes. Recommendations are offered for developing targeted participatory strategies to strengthen disaster resilience in vulnerable rural districts.