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Researching Religion and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: The Contribution of African Scholars
No full textAbstract
Studying religious phenomena in an era when religion was grossly curtailed as a conveyer of COVID-19 proved to be an unusual challenge. This called for innovative approaches and methodologies that differed from the conventional ones in religious research. An assessment of the thematic concerns, methodological approaches, and challenges faced at a time when the global shutdown and quarantine had significantly affected academic research is timely. However, the normative reference to and comparison with Western scholarship on religion overshadows the contribution of African scholars in global studies on religion, which portrays African scholars as demonstrating conspicuous scholarly silence on issues that affect their continent. This article addresses this problem by highlighting the works and contribution of African scholars to the study of religion and COVID-19 to emphasize their visibility in the global production of knowledge. It further analyses African scholars’ attempt to accentuate African society’s interface with the pandemic
Investigating the precursors of instructional delivery competence among kyambogo university teaching staff
No full textInstructional delivery is one of the critical measures of productivity of an academic
teaching staff. Universities need to invest in developing the teaching capacities of
their academic workforce to deliver effective teaching and learning processes to the
students. This study investigated the influence of pedagogical competencies (PC) on
instructional delivery among the teaching staff at Kyambogo University (KyU). The
study sample was 51 teaching staff members from the Faculty of Education and the
Faculty of Arts, who comprised the Heads of Department and the lecturers. Using
random and purposive sampling, they were chosen for sampling. Survey
questionnaires and interview guides were used to get data later analysed in
frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data analysis was done, and the
findings revealed that pedagogical competencies influence the quality of lecture
delivery. Based on this evidence, it was concluded that pedagogical competencies
influence instructional delivery. Although most of the results were encouraging and
showed notable improvements in how lessons were delivered, some shortcomings
were also noted. It was recommended that the management of KyU designs and
implements continuous professional development programs to improve the
pedagogical skills of the teaching staff. Similar research will be carried out at
faculties within KyU other than the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Arts
Accounting Ethical Practices and Financial Reporting Quality :A Case of Mukwano Group of Companies
No full textP. (1-10) ;This study aimed at the Accounting Ethical practices and financial reporting Quality by Mukwano group of companies. This study based on three main objectives which were: To examine the effects of disclosure on the Quality of financial reports of Mukwano group of companies, to examine the effects of objectivity on the quality of financial reports of Mukwano group of companies, to examine the effects of integrity on the quality of financial reports of Mukwano group of companies. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research designed with a sample of 40 respondents. Qualitative data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews while Quantitative data was obtained through computation and analysis. The collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and presentation in the form of tables. The findings of this study reveal that a strong commitment to ethical principles in accounting significantly contributes to the quality of financial reporting. The research identifies key ethical challenges faced by the organization and offers recommendations on how Mukwano Group of Companies can further strengthen its ethical framework to ensure the highest standards of financial reporting. This study not only contributes to the academic discourse on accounting ethics and financial reporting but also provides practical insights for companies striving to improve their financial reporting processes through ethical conduct
Educational broadcasting and socio- economic development of rural communities in Mbarara District, Uganda
No full textThe elimination of poverty, increased productivity and employment is only
possible with improvements in socio-economic development which however,
remains dismal to the rural communities of Mbarara District. The study as its
main purpose examined the influence of educational community radio
broadcasting on socio-economic development among rural communities of
Mbarara district so as to derive a framework for broadcasting to enhance
socio-economic development among listeners. The study as a methodological
stance adopted a cross sectional survey design followed both quantitative
and qualitative research approaches. Questionnaire, open-ended and
interviews and focus group discussion methods were used. The data was
collected using questionnaires from 250 randomly selected, interview guides
and focus group discussion tools were applied. The data was analysed at
descriptive and inferential levels using SPSS Version 20.0. The results
showed that education broadcasting related to government programmes (β
= 0.283, p = 0.03) had a significant positive influence on the socio-economic
development of rural communities in Mbarara district. The study
recommends among others the need for management of community radios
in collaboration with media team to prioritize broadcasts that promote
children immunization in addition to agricultural practices as well as
embracing listenership to radio programs that provide information on
sanitation and hygiene as a health promotion tool
Calculation algorithm for electromagnetic wave processes in multi-wire intersystem ETL
No full textThe nature of the transient process and the magnitude of the overvoltages are determined by a large number of factors in the HV/EHV AC transmission networks. The paper presents the study of mathematical modelling of electromagnetic wave processes in long-distance electric transmission line (ETL). The mathematical model is based on electromagnetic processes occurring on distributed parameter lines that are characterized by specific derivatives of the system of differential equations. The application of a spline-interpolation technique enables the calculation of currents and voltages at the nodes of the scheme, which obtains the unknown coordinates of the overhead line mode at the beginning of the ETL to solve the transmission line equation. The following results are derived from computer simulations of transients during switching on. With a simulation model, the importance of intelligent control of shunt reactor (SR) and ungrounded reactor (UR) was demonstrated and considered for a 500 kV power networks
School climate, professional development and effectiveness of teachers in Universal Secondary Education schools in Busiro county, Wakiso district, Uganda
No full textxii, 131 p.The study investigated the influence of school climate on the effectiveness of teachers moderated by professional development in universal secondary education schools in Wakiso district, Uganda. Specifically, the study examined the influence of school climate on effectiveness of teachers, assessed the influence of teachers’ professional development on effectiveness of teachers and tested the moderating effect of teacher professional development on the influence of school climate on effectiveness of teachers in universal secondary education schools in Wakiso district, Uganda. School climate was studied in terms of school environment, school safety and school engagements. Professional development was studied in terms of behavioural development, attitudinal development and intellectual development, while teacher effectiveness was studied in terms of effective lesson delivery, subject content expertise, classroom management, relational expertise, professional conduct and self-development. Using the quantitative approach, the study adopted the correlational research design. Data’ were collected from a sample of 210 teachers from 13 universal secondary education schools using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation modelling (PL-SEM) using Smart PLS. Descriptive results revealed that teacher effectiveness was high, school climate and professional development were good. Structural equation modelling (SEM) results revealed that professional development had a positive and significant effect on teacher effectiveness, school climate positively and significantly predicted teacher effectiveness, but professional development had a negative significant moderating effect on the influence of school climate on effectiveness of teachers. It was concluded that school climate is imperative for effectiveness of teachers, professional development is paramount for effectiveness of teachers, and the interaction between professional development and school climate is not the most problem requirement for effectiveness of teachers. School administrators such as head teachers should promote conducive school climate in schools, the Ministry of Education and Sports, head teachers and other stakeholders should provide and encourage high professional development opportunities to teachers, and the Ministry of Education and Sports, and head teachers should provide teachers more professional development without giving equal emphasis to school climate
Effect of capacity building, staffing levels and technology on quality of health management information system data on maternal deliveries at Arua referral hospital, Uganda
No full textxiii, 104 p. ;This study aimed to investigate the impact of capacity building, staffing levels, and technology on the Quality of Health Management Information System (HMIS) Data concerning maternal deliveries at Arua Referral Hospital (ARRH) in Uganda. The research focused on three specific objectives: evaluating how capacity building influences the completeness of HMIS data for deliveries, assessing the effect of staffing levels on the timeliness of HMIS data related to deliveries, and examining the impact of technology on the accuracy of HMIS data concerning deliveries. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design incorporating quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the study involved a population of 120 hospital staff members (6 administrators, 6 records officers, 58 midwives, and 50 nurses). Respondents were selected through a combination of random and purposive sampling methods. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and R software, while qualitative data utilized Nvivo V14 for thematic analysis. Findings revealed a predominantly female workforce in departments critical to maternal health, aligning with national nursing demographics. Notably, capacity building initiatives showed a strong positive correlation (r=0.6) with the completeness of HMIS data for maternal deliveries. Staffing levels also correlated positively (r=0.5) with timeliness, particularly influenced by the presence of Records Officers. Technology showed a weaker positive correlation (r=0.4) with data accuracy, access to DHIS2 and computers contributing mildly, while internet connectivity showed limited impact. Recommendations from the study emphasize clear responsibilities in data management to address issues like incorrect register filling. It advocates for inclusive training sessions involving junior staff and promotes enhanced data sharing and dissemination practices to bolster data quality assurance processes. In conclusion, this study highlights the pivotal roles of capacity building, staffing adequacy, and appropriate technology utilization in enhancing quality of HMIS data for maternal deliveries
“You get the money after waiting for long and you get less than you anticipated”: Experiences of persons with disabilities in accessing the district special grant in Uganda
No full textIn 2010, Uganda scrapped an ambitious tax incentive provision in the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 that had allowed employers to claim up to 15% tax reduction in annual income provided that they hired at least 10 persons with disabilities at any job level. As though it were a trade-off, the 15% tax incentive was replaced with the special grant, a grant intended for persons with disabilities organized in small groups to generate income. The special grant started off as a pilot in 48 districts before it was rolled out nationally. Since 2019, the responsible ministry has been implementing two models of the special grant: the district special grant and the national special grant. This study focused on the district special grant, and primarily explored the experiences of persons with disabilities in accessing and utilizing the district special grant, and the difference the grant is making. The study adopted a qualitative research approach using interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from 10 beneficiary groups drawn from 6 districts. Focus group discussions were conducted with special grant beneficiary groups while district officials responsible for the special grant and disability union representatives were individually interviewed. Data were analyzed using template coding and thematic analysis. Study findings revealed limited access to the district grant, dismal grant amounts, significant deviations from implementation guidelines, operational dilemmas and overlooking disability related expenses like the costs for moving with a personal assistant. Nonetheless, participants commended the special grant for enabling them to build social networks, gain self-confidence and start small income generating activities. The small grant amount disbursed to big group size groups that lack business start-up skills did not support impactful business initiatives. The study revealed a strong evidence from individual grants as opposed to a group grants for starting income generating activities. The ministry of gender should consider remodeling the special grant into a social protection scheme that awards small grants to individual income generating activities
Investigating the sensitivity of tropical catchments to changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration under different climatic conditions
No full textxiii, 133 p. : mapsGlobally, effective management of water resources is needed to provide sustainable water sources for human and ecosystem consumption. For the sustainability of water resources, careful planning is required for the management of catchments. One way to yield relevant information to support actionable policy is scenario analysis using hydrological modeling as a tool. This study investigated the sensitivity of Tropical catchments to changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration under different climatic conditions. The idea was to determine the extent to which flows would change given some incremental changes in rainfall and Potential evapotranspiration (PET). Six sub-catchments were considered and data from 1999-2016 (Malaba), 1980-2018 (Mpanga), 1990-2019 (Kabalega), 1980-2000 (Blue Nile), and 1980-2002 (El-diem & Ribb) were utilized. The AWBM and Hydrological Model focusing on Sub-Flow Variation (HMSV) were applied to data from each selected sub-catchment. Performance of AWBM in terms of Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) considering the full data period was 0.838 (Malaba), 0.686 (Kabalega), 0.676 (Mpanga), 0.812 (Blue Nile), 0.745 (El-Diem) and 0.56 (Ribb). Corresponding values for HMSV were 0.806 (Malaba), 0.748 (Kabalega), 0.620 (Mpanga), 0.806 (Blue Nile), 0.800 (El-Diem) and 0.520 (Ribb). Mean annual flows exhibited increasing trends in all sub-catchments except Kabalega. A positive trend ranged from 0.005-2.294m3/s/year in magnitude. A negative trend in the flow of Kabalega was at a rate of -0.015m3/s/year. All trends in flows were not significant since p-values were all above 0.05. The sensitivity of sub-catchments to increasing rainfall under constant PET ranged from 0.968m3/s/year (Malaba) to 2.700m3/s/year (Blue Nile) for every percentage increase in rainfall. The sensitivity of sub-catchments to increasing PET under constant rainfall ranged from -0.3603 m3/s/year (Kabalega) to -1.288 m3/s/year (Blue Nile) for every percentage increase in PET. Under simultaneous changes in rainfall totals and PET, the sensitivity of sub-catchments varied, ranging from 0.00821 m3/s/year (Malaba) to 1.2218 m3/s/year (Blue Nile) for every percentage increase in rainfall. Climate variability is characterized by both increases and decreases in flows depending on underlying factors. These results underscore the importance of careful planning of watershed management given factors like changes in climatic conditions that influence spatial and temporal variation in rainfall and PET
Microsatellite-based analysis reveals Aedes aegypti populations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia result from colonization by both the ancestral African and the global domestic forms
No full textThe Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) mosquito is the main vector of dengue, chi-
kungunya and Zika and is well established today all over the world. The species
comprises two forms: the ancestral form found throughout Africa and a global do-
mestic form that spread to the rest of the tropics and subtropics. In Saudi Arabia, A.
aegypti has been known in the southwest since 1956, and previous genetic studies
clustered A. aegypti from Saudi Arabia with the global domestic form. The purpose
of this study was to assess the genetic structure of A. aegypti in Saudi Arabia and
determine their geographic origin. Genetic data for 17 microsatellites were col-
lected for A. aegypti ranging from the southwestern highlands of Saudi Arabia on
the border of Yemen to the north-west in Madinah region as well as from Thailand
and Uganda populations (as representatives of the ancestral African and global
domestic forms, respectively). The low but significant level of genetic structur-
ing in Saudi Arabia was consistent with long-distance dispersal capability possibly
through road connectivity and human activities, that is, passive dispersal. There
are two main genetic groupings in Saudi Arabia, one of which clusters with the Ugandan population and the other with the Thailand population with many Saudi
Arabian individuals having mixed ancestry. The hypothesis of genetic admixture
of the ancestral African and global domestic forms in Saudi Arabia was supported
by approximate Bayesian computational analyses. The extent of admixture varied
across Saudi Arabia. African ancestry was highest in the highland area of the Jazan
region followed by the lowland Jazan and Sahil regions. Conversely, the western
(Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah) and Najran populations corresponded to the global
domesticated form. Given potential differences between the forms in transmission
capability, ecology and behaviour, the findings here should be taken into account in
vector control efforts in Saudi Arabia