Kyambogo University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
2178 research outputs found
Sort by
A dye-sensitized solar cell based on an in-situ hydrothermally grown hematite photo-anode
No full textTransition metal-oxides have gained research attention for applications in optoelectronics devices like dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This contribution presents an α-Fe2O3-Pt DSSC configuration. An in-situ hydrothermal technique was used to grow spherically shaped α-Fe2O3 thin films on an FTO substrate, forming the photo-anode. The surface morphology, structural, and optical properties were characterized by standard techniques, confirming the samples’ purity. Pt was drop-cast on the FTO substrate, forming the counter electrode. The photo-anode was soaked in N719 ruthenium dye for 24 h. The electrodes were assembled using crocodile clips, and the iodide electrolyte was injected into the space between them. At an intensity of 100 mW/cm2, the α-Fe2O3-Pt DSSC yielded a short-circuit photocurrent density, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and efficiency of 0.098 mAcm−2, 0.410 V, 0.247, and 0.01%, respectively. These results provide a simple, cost-effective strategy for synthesizing spherical nanoporous α-Fe2O3 thin films for potential application as photo-anodes in n-DSSCs
The phosphorus negotiation game (P-Game): first evaluation of a serious game to support science-policy decision making played in more than 20 countries worldwide
No full textEnvironmental negotiations are complex, and conveying the interaction between science and policy in traditional teaching methods is challenging. To address this issue, innovative educational approaches like serious gaming and role-playing games have emerged. These methods allow students to actively explore the roles of different stakeholders in environmental decision-making and weigh for instance between sometimes conflicting UN Sustainable Development Goals or other dilemmas. In this work the phosphorus negotiation game (P-Game) is for the first time introduced. We present the initial quantitative and qualitative findings derived from engaging 788 students at various academic levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD, and Postdoc) across three continents and spanning 22 different countries. Quantitative results indicate that female participants and MSc students benefitted the most significantly from the P-Game, with their self-reported knowledge about phosphorus science and negotiation science/practice increasing by 71–93% (overall), 86–100% (females), and 73–106% (MSc students in general). Qualitative findings reveal that the P-Game can be smoothly conducted with students from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, students highly value their participation in the P-Game, which can be completed in just 2–3 h. This game not only encourages active engagement among participants but also provides valuable insights into the complex environmental issues associated with global phosphorus production. We strongly believe that the underlying methodology described here could also be used for other topics
Analysis of the Cultural Meaning of Okulamusa Practice of the Basoga People of Uganda
No full text22 p. ;Prolonged greeting practices of various communities particularly in Africa offer insights about the deeper meaning of social interactions among people in a modern global society where individualism and its attendant challenges to humankind are increasing. This study was about okulamusa, an indigenous greeting practice of the Basoga people of Uganda. Although this heritage embeds deep Basoga sociocultural values, there is barely any scholarly analysis of its meaning to the community and application in a contemporary context. This study aimed at finding out the nature of interactions and relationships that okulamusa engenders, its cultural value, and what could be learnt about and from the engagements in this practice. The study employed phenomenological and auto-ethnographic methods, and involved 22 participants. Data was obtained through observation, interviews, focus group discussions, auto-ethnographic reflection, and analysis of extant YouTube videos and online audio files that were widely publicised. The inquiry revealed that okulamusa is a contextual asking of questions and telling of holistic human experiences, which embed construction of individual and collective identity, and nurturing of a socio-collectivist community spirit, understanding, unity, cohesion, and coexistence in society. These virtues are transmitted in an intergenerational manner as a means of sustaining the community’s ethical and social fabric. The study concluded that okulamusa, just like other similar prolonged greeting cultures, is a central cultural practice that shapes human interactions and relations, which have implications for contemporary social development initiatives
Ecological and human Health risks from potentially toxic elements in environmental matrices of kiteezi landfill, Uganda
No full textBy the time of this study, Kiteezi landfill was Uganda’s largest waste disposal site and received substantial volumes of municipal solid waste. In the present study, water (n = 36), leachates (n = 36), superficial sediments (n = 30), and Colocasia esculenta corms (n = 6) were sampled from Kiteezi landfill in the dry and wet seasons of 2022 before its tragic collapse in 2024. The physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, and oxidation–reduction potential) and concentration of potentially toxic elements (As, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn) were analyzed using standard methods and inductively coupled plasmaoptical emission spectrometry, respectively.
Significant seasonal variations (p < 0.05) were observed for all the physicochemical parameters of water and leachates except temperature.
Further, significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) of potentially toxic elements (PTXEs) were quantified in environmental matrices sampled during the dry season than the wet
season. Arsenic and Pb concentrations in water surpassed their WHO permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L. The concentrations of PTXEs were higher in downstream samples (p < 0.05),
indicating that landfill activities led to their enrichment in matrices near the facility. Ecological and pollution risk indices indicated that there is severe enrichment of Cu and Zn in the sediments, with dry season downstream samples having contamination factors and geoaccumulation indices of 539.3 and 74.7 and 8.5 and 5.6, respectively. Although ingestion
of water may not cause probable health risks, consumption of Colocasia esculenta corms could lead to non-carcinogenic and cancer health risks in both children and adults (hazard
indices = 0.085–189.0 and total cancer risk values of 7.33 × 10−6–4.87 × 10−3). These results emphasize the need that any new replacement for Kiteezi landfill should be properlyplanned and managed to mitigate potential environmental pollution with xenobiotics
Education-to-work transition among the youth in post-conflict settings: a review of the roles of individual agency, mental health, and psychosocial well-being
No full text16 p. ;Education-to-work transition among war-affected youth in post-conflict settings is fraught with challenges, not least compounded by the little attention placed on individual agency and mental health. This review examines the debate on war-affected youth skilling programmes in post-conflict settings, which neglect the roles of individual agency and mental health in the education-to-work transition. Building on Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory (SET) and the Cumulative Stress Hypothesis (CSH), the review presents an integrated approach to skills development for improving education-to-work transition among waraffected youth. According to SET, the development of self-efficacy is anchored on enactive mastery, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and physiological arousal. Moreover, individual agency factors such as motivation, aspiration, goal orientation, active efforts, and alignment of intentions with skills are protective factors for effective education-to-work transition, but they are also eroded by the adverse consequences of violent conflicts. Similarly, the CSH also suggests that the effects of exposure to protracted violent conflicts are cumulative and may lead, in turn, to a plethora of mental health problems in the aftermath of violent conflicts. Mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and PTSD are linked to, inter alia, behaviours such as aggression, substance abuse, and apathy, all related to poor employment outcomes. To increase the employability of young people affected by war, skills training institutions and work settings need to prioritise the mental health and individual agency of the youth, as well as skills acquisition for specific trades. Consequently, we propose an integrated model of reintegrating war-affected and vulnerable youth anchored on professional technical and vocational skills training; recognition of individual agency; provision of mental and psychosocial support; and life skills training, all nested within the local economic realities
Large-scale climate drivers of drought-to-flood events in Sub-Saharan Africa: insight from CMIP6 large-ensembles
No full textSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasingly experiencing unprecedented drought-to-flood events, posing critical challenges to water and food security. These rapid or seasonal transitions between extreme hydroclimatic conditions underline the urgency of advancing climate adaptation strategies and enhancing risk management frameworks in the region. However, the role of large-scale climate variability, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV), and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), in influencing decadal trends in these events across SSA remains inadequately understood.
This study aims to address this gap by evaluating how well eight single-model initial-condition large ensembles (SMILEs) from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) simulate the spatiotemporal patterns of drought-to-flood events in SSA. ERA5-Land data is used as the observational reference. We also investigate potential seasonal links between the probability of drought-to-flood events and large-scale modes of climate variability.
Drought-to-flood events are defined as the sequential occurrence of a flood following a drought. To capture these events, we employ a variable threshold approach for identifying droughts, while floods are characterized using absolute thresholds (50th to 90th percentiles). To assess potential differences between meteorological and hydrological definitions of drought and flood, we compare results derived from precipitation, soil moisture, and runoff datasets
Reconnoitering biometric management system and funds distribution to refugees : evidence from Parabek refugees settlement camp in Uganda
No full text37-52 p.Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing concern about the Biometrics Management System and funds distribution to Refugees in Uganda empirical evidence from Parabek Settlement comp. The Biometrics Management System and Distribution of Refugee Monthly funds assistance rations in Parabek Refugee Settlement. To establish the distribution of Refugee Monthly funds assistance rations in parabek Refugee Settlement. To examine the de-duplication funds distribution of Refugee Monthly funds assistance rations in Parabek Refugee Settlement. In this study, a total number of 100 respondents were engaged into the study. The study adopted a parallel mixed methodology that enabled collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. A case research design was used, to enable in-depth data analysis and triangulation purposes. The study used survey, interview and focused group discussion in data collection. The SPSS and content data analysis were used. The findings revealed that registration, verification and de-duplication positively and significantly relate with the distribution of refugee monthly funds assistance rations in Parabek refugee settlement which rejects the null hypothesis. The dynamics approach helped the public as well as the NGO sectors to prepare and execute biometrics technology projects for the control of identity fraud, reducing beneficiaries missing funds assistance rations and reduced complaints. Biometrics technology has served as an appropriate tool for the authentication and maintenance of individual identities. Biometrics technology has helped to identify, authenticate, authorize, and enforce accountability of individuals. In inclusion distribution by use the technology have transformed how identity is credentialed in the distribution of refugee monthly funds assistance rations. The results of this investigation suggest that relevant action is required among these stakeholders to enable the extensive and successful adoption and the use of biometrics verification within the distribution of refugee monthly funds assistance rations in Parabek refugee settlement. This served as a model for effective distribution of funds refugees’ settlements and the country as a whole. Recommendations: it will not be possible to adopt biometrics without significant and concerted efforts to inform and educate the stakeholders as well as the public. Workshops should be organized to educate people and raise awareness about the growing tendency of identity fraud and the function of biometrics technique as a control measure. Standard Operating Procedure need to be upgraded and should emanate from the ground. SOPs come from the top and there is also need for data cleaning as well as improve on network connectivity. Biometrics Identity Management System should be upgraded or improved to capture details of minors as well
Assessment of electrical conductivity and germinability of groundnut genotype seeds
No full text6 p.Seed quality affects crop establishment and productivity. In addition, the use of good-quality seed is an essential prerequisite for sustainable crop production including groundnuts. Assessing germinability and electrical conductivity provides early evidence of the production potential of a given crop variety or genotype. Therefore, this study assessed the germinability and electrical conductivity of seeds of three groundnut genotypes. A laboratory experiment arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), replicated three times, was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyambogo University, in 2020. Seeds of Igola, Serenut 1, and Serenut 2 groundnut varieties were tested, and data was collected on germination percentage and electrical conductivity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using GenStat and means were separated using the least significant difference test at a 5% probability level. Germination percentage and electrical conductivity significantly (p<0.05) differed among the groundnut varieties, with Igola recording the highest germination percentage, followed by Serenut 1, and the lowest was in Serenut 2. The highest electrical conductivity was recorded in Serenut 1 and the lowest in Igola. Since Igola had one of the lowest electrical conductivity and the highest germination percentage, it was concluded that Igola genotype retained higher quality attributes
Foreign direct investment and poverty in Uganda: what is the relationship?
No full textPurpose
This paper investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and poverty in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
Using annual time series data from 1983 to 2021, we use the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing method to cointegration for test the above relationship. Considering the multidimensionality of poverty, we proxy poverty by three proxies: household consumption expenditure, infant mortality rate and life expectancy.
Findings
The findings reveal that FDI is important for poverty reduction in both the long- and short-run when using household consumption and infant mortality rate, holding other factors constant. This relationship is robust to alternative specifications and estimation methods. This paper establishes that FDI does matter for poverty reduction in both the short and long run. However, when life expectancy is used to proxy poverty, results show a positive relationship between FDI and poverty.
Originality/value
The long-run relationship between FDI and poverty largely suggests that tackling poverty may require reforming the economic environment by addressing bottlenecks that hinder economic growth, which is a key component in poverty reduction. Thus, it is important to ensure that government expenditure is directed to the productive sectors of the economy, such as education and infrastructure, among others that are paramount in expanding the productive capacity of the economy, which in turn is crucial for poverty reduction
The influence of institutional research culture on the research competence of lecturers of kyambogo university
No full textThis study examined the influence of institutional research culture on research competence of lecturers of
Kyambogo University. Using a correlational research design to collect data and analyse data from a
sample of 192 teaching staff. The data were analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics and SmartPLS
was used to test the hypotheses and structural equation modelling. Descriptive results indicated that the
majority of the respondents were males (54.7%). Concerning age range, the majority 66.7% were aged 40
years and above while the rest (33.3%) were below 40 years and the majority (60.9%) were PhD holders.
Inferential results revealed that institutional research culture had a positive and significant influence on
lecturers’ research competences. It explained 33.6% of the variation in research competence of lecturers.
Therefore, institutional research culture is very central in fostering the research competences of lecturers.
Institutional managers should nurture a culture that enhances the research competence of lecturers