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Assessment of hydro-pedological characteristics at medium-sized landslide sites in Manafwa catchment, Mount Elgon, Uganda
No full textThough strongly linked to landslides, hydro-pedological characteristics are inadequately investigated in the area. This study investigated hydro-pedological characteristics at medium landslide sites in Manafwa catchment. The design had twelve (12) infiltration experiments that were conducted at each site. To determine the selected soil physical properties, composite soil samples were extracted from the infiltration sites for soil laboratory analysis. Soil cores were extracted to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and bulk density. The observed high values of IR and rapid Ksat underscore the susceptibility of the studied sites to landslide hazards. Additionally, soil organic matter (SOM), clay content, and bulk density further contribute to the understanding of the hydro-pedological factors influencing landslide occurrences. These findings reveal the need for comprehensive investigations into hydro-pedological characteristics of other landslide categories to assist in landslide risk assessment and management strategies
Maize Grain Yield and Quality Improvement Through Biostimulant Application: a Systematic Review
No full textP. (1-41) ;Increasing the productivity of cereals such as maize while protecting the environment remains a fundamental impetus of healthy
food production systems. The use of biostimulants is one of the sustainable strategies to achieve this balance, although the
ability of biostimulants to enhance maize productivity varies. Moreover, research on the efficacy of biostimulants is ubiquitous
with limited comprehensive global analysis. In this context, this systematic review evaluated the sole and interactive effects
of biostimulants on the yield and quality of maize grain from a global perspective. Changes in yield (t ha-1), protein content
(%), starch content (%) and oil content (%) of maize grain were assessed. Results revealed that sole and combined application
of biostimulants significantly improved grain yield. Irrespective of the region, the highest and the lowest grain yields ranged between 16-20 t ha-1 and 1-5 t ha-1, respectively. In sole application, the promising biostimulants were chicken feather (16.5 t ha-1), and endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae (14.5 t ha-1). Sewage sludge × NPK (15.4 t ha-1), humic acid × control release
urea (12.4 t ha-1), Azospirillum brasilense or Bradyrhizobium japonicum × maize hybrids (11.6 t ha- 1), and Rhizophagus intraradices × earthworms (10.0 t ha- 1) had higher yield for the interactive effects. The effects of biostimulants on grain quality were minimal, and all attributes improved in the range from 0.1 to 3.7%. Overall, biostimulants had a distinct improvement effect on yield, rather than on the quality of grain. As one way of maximising maize productivity, soil health, and the overall functioning
of crop agroecosystems, the integrated application of synergistic microbial and non-microbial biostimulants could provide
a viable option. However, the ability to produce consistent yield and quality of grain improvement remains a major concern
Classroom management, constructivist teaching and pupils’ engagement in remedial classes in government aided primary schools in Njeru municipality, Uganda
No full textxi, 82 p. ;This study examined the influence of classroom management on pupils’ engagement in remedial classes moderated by constructivist teaching in primary schools in Njeru Municipality, Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to establish the influence of classroom management, constructivist teaching on pupils’ engagement and the moderating effect of constructivist teaching on the influence of classroom management on pupils’ engagement in remedial classes. Guided by the quantitative approach, the study applied a correlational research design, collected data using a questionnaire and carried out Descriptive and inferential analyses on a sample of 216 pupils. Results showed that pupils rated teachers’ classroom management, use of constructivist teaching and their own engagement to be high. Inferential analysis indicated that classroom management and constructivist teaching had a positive significant influence on pupils’ engagement in remedial classes. However, classroom management partially moderated the influence of classroom management on pupils’ engagement in remedial classes in primary schools. Hence combining effective classroom management and constructivist teaching is imperative for pupil engagement in remedial classes. It was recommended that teachers should always ensure that effective classroom management go hand in hand with constructivist teaching to promote pupil engagement in remedial classes
Foreign direct investment- economic growth Nexus in Uganda
No full textx, 47 p.The research examined the causal interaction between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Economic Growth using annual time series data spanning from 1983 to 2021. Data was obtained from the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), Bank of Uganda (BoU), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the World Bank. The research employed a VAR test, where FDI causes economic growth in Uganda.
Furthermore, ARDL approach was used to investigate the factors influencing economic growth in Uganda. In the long-run, inflation and trade openness have a positive and statistically significant effect on GDP at 5% level of significance. In addition, the lending interest rate and exchange rate were found to have a negative and statistically significant effect on GDP. In the short run, economic growth is positively influenced by FDI and the exchange rate at 5% level of significance, while it is negatively influenced by inflation and the lending interest rate.
The study recommends the need to channel foreign direct investments in strategic economic sectors like energy, oil and gas and transportation that have stronger economic growth multipliers by offering a range of tax incentives, holidays/ concessions and breaks, the need for Bank of Uganda to control the high lending interest rates offered by commercial banks, and the need to promote trade openness by reducing barriers to trade such as quotas, tariffs and non-tariff barriers to create a more open and predictable trade environment
The Influence of Employee Development Initiatives in the Retention of Academics at Kyambogo University, Uganda
No full textP. (1-17) ;The study analysed the influence of employee development (ED) initiatives on the retention of academics at Kyambogo University (KYU) in Uganda. The issue of concern was that whereas KYU was investing up to 18% of her annual budget into staff hiring and development activities, the contribution of these ED activities or initiatives towards the retention of academics was not known. Hence, the study’s overall objective was to assess the influence of ED initiatives on the retention of academics at KYU. The study,, borrowing ideas from the job embeddedness theory, explains how staff retention at KYU is partly a question of being embedded in the university employment system and partly due to other factors. The study adopted an explanatory survey design that employed quantitative data collection and analysis approaches. Stratified sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 159 from a study population of 311 academics. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The study registered a response rate of 68.2% (107 out of 157). The data were analysed using SPSS Version 25 and presented as descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings from the study revealed that ED had a significant positive correlation with academic retention (r = 0.489**, n= 107, p = 0.000). It was also established that ED is a significant predictor of retention of academics at KYU (F = 33.010, p< 0.01). Up to 23.2 per cent of the variance in the retention of academics at the university could be attributed to ED initiatives. It was concluded that if ED initiatives were effectively implemented, there would be a likelihood of improving retention levels of academics. The study recommends that the administration of KYU maintains the existing ED initiatives and strengthens them further to attain a high level of retention of academics. The study further recommends maintaining and improving the existing practices of ED, such as mentoring, coaching, lectures, workshops and conferences
Agrarian evolution on wetlands in Kampala district 1900-2010
No full textVarious pages : col.The study discusses the Agrarian evolution on wetlands of in Kampala District from 1900 2010.This is done by looking forward to examining the genesis of agrarian evolution on wetlands of Kinawataka, Luzira and Lubigi in Kampala, discussing the reasons for rapid transition of wetlands into agrarian spaces in Kampala as well as analysing the impact of agrarian evolution on wetlands in Kampala. To achieve these objectives, the research deployed a qualitative approach of data collection and analysis where data was collected using oral interviews from residents of Kinawataka, Luzira and Lubigi as well as key informants. Documentary review and observation were also used. Findings reveal that before colonialism, there was less encroachment on wetlands but events went on evolving from 1900 onwards as the colonialists took over uplands for administration and urbanisation pushing nationals around Kampala to wetlands for cultivation. In the immediate post-colonial Kampala (1960s to 1990), wetlands were not threatened by agrarian practices as much as they became in the late 1980s, through the 1990s and the 21st century.
Findings point to dynamics of urbanisation, political violence, increased population and reluctance of the legal regime have facilitated the escalation of agrarian practices in Kinawataka, Luzira and Lubigi wetlands. Findings further show that as population in Kampala City grows, there is a number of people who have turned wetlands into urban farms as an alternative source of food, income and general livelihood because they are incapacitated to buy food on daily basis. Therefore, as agrarian practices evolve in Kampala wetlands overtime not as root practices but as induced practices by a number of push and pull factors, there is need for comprehensive approach to promote a peaceful co-existence between human agrarian practices and the ecosystem of wetlands.
Implications and policy recommendations are therein indicated by the study. However, although the current study has investigated the genesis of agrarian evolution on wetlands in Kampala District, the reasons for rapid transition of wetlands into agrarian centres as well as the effects of agrarian evolution, its time scope is limited to 2010. Thus, leaving a knowledge gap on events that have evolved in the last decade regarding agrarian evolution on wetlands in Kampala to-date. Additionally, there is need to do more research on the history of institutional framework for wetland conservation in Kampala, a study on historical accounts on the impact of traditional control systems for land use on the conservation of wetlands in Kampala, a study seeking an examination of the impact of colonial legacy on land use systems on wetlands of Kampala
Financial literacy and financial resilience of youth led enterprises in Uganda : a case of Gulu city
No full textxii, 82 p.In Uganda, a significant proportion of youth-led businesses encounter substantial financial risks and vulnerabilities, posing formidable challenges to their capacity for maintaining financial resilience. This research examined the effect of financial literacy on the financial resilience of youth-led enterprises in Gulu City. The study was guided by four objectives; (i) To examine the effect of savings literacy on financial resilience of youth-led enterprises in Gulu City, (ii) To establish the effect of investment literacy on financial resilience of youth-led enterprises in Gulu
City, (iii) To investigate the effect of credit management literacy on financial resilience of youthled enterprises in Gulu City and (iv) To assess the joint effect of saving literacy, investment literacy, and credit management literacy on financial resilience of youth-led enterprises in Gulu City. Employing a cross-sectional survey research design integrating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, data was gathered through surveys and interviews from a sample of 148 firms, representing a study population of 240. Key respondents comprised owners or managers of youth-led enterprises. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (V. 23.0). The findings revealed a significant influence of savings literacy (β=0.493, P<0.05), Investment literacy (β=0.531, P<0.05) and Credit management literacy (β=0.493, P<0.05) on financial resilience. The study therefore concluded that enhancing financial literacy, particularly savings, investment, and credit management, is paramount for bolstering the financial resilience of youth-led enterprises. Drawing from these insights, recommendations are provided, and the study recommends the implementation of training programs fostering saving literacy, investment literacy, and credit management for owners and managers of youth-led enterprises. Furthermore, integrating financial literacy training into governmental initiatives supporting youth-led enterprises should be done to enhance success rates. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of financial literacy in fostering financial sustainability of youth-led enterprises in Uganda
University degree benefits and labour market experiences of non-traditional graduates in Uganda
No full textStudies on the transition from university to the workforce have revealed that non-traditional students (NTS) often face more challenges, including discrimination and a higher likelihood of securing lower-quality jobs compared to traditional students. Despite these findings, there is a scarcity of studies examining the specific benefits NTS derive from obtaining a university degree and their labour market experiences including their future career plans. Moreover, many studies do not deeply explore these issues from the perspectives of disadvantaged graduate groups. Drawing on Bourdieu’s notion of capital and current discourses on graduate employment opportunities, this paper uses the perspectives of non-traditional graduates (NTG) to discuss the benefits of obtaining a university degree, their labour market experiences, and their future career plans within the context of Uganda. The benefits were found to be social, economic, personal, and professional, with notable overlap between social and personal benefits, revealing tensions between individualism and collectivism in Ugandan society. Various factors were found to positively and negatively shape NTG’s labour market experiences, with further training and self-employment being key aspects of their future career plans. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for understanding the intersection of education, labour market dynamics, and societal values
Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) dye extract: a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells
No full textxiii, 66 p. : ill. (some col.) ;Energy is a very critical requirement for all nations that boosts economic growth and development. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the 3rd generation photovoltaic technology which imitate the process of photosynthesis in green plants have of recent gained overwhelming attention in solar harnessing because of their simple structure, affordable cost, simple fabrication technique, little toxicity, and comparatively high efficiency of energy conversion. Currently, Platinum is used as a counter electrode for DSSCs. However, the scarcity and high cost of Pt is still a challenge. In this study, copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Cucurbita maxima plant leaf dye extract and applied as an electrocatalytic CE in DSSCs. The CuO NPs were characterized using XRD, TEM, UV-Visible spectrophotometer and FTIR to obtain their crystal structure, surface morphology, optical properties and chemical bonds respectively. Three individual natural dyes from pumpkin leaves (P), sweet potato leaves (S) and hibiscus flowers (H), along with their composites, P:H and S:H in varying ratios were extracted, their optical properties studied and used as photosensitizers. The results indicate that the fabricated DSSC with P:H-1:3 composite dyes yielded the highest PCE of 8.7×10-4 %, a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 13.94 μA/cm2 and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.29 V compared to S:H-1:3 composite and individual dyes under one-sun illumination from a solar simulator (AM1.5 100 mWcm-2)
Revisiting the representation of patriarchy and gender inequality in selected contemporary African novels
No full textix, 97 p.This study offers a comprehensive re-examination of the patriarchal and gender inequality representation in selected African novels, capturing key aspects of the continuous and nuanced evolution of the patriarchal and gender-inequality issues on the African continent. The analysis centres on three specific research objectives, namely: the examination of repression of women by fellow women; analyzing the oppression of men by both patriarchy and women; and an exploration of male’s advocacy for the emancipation of women under patriarchal societies. The study utilised qualitative, library-based research approach, characterized by close reading and textual analysis of both primary and secondary sources, to unravel the intricate evolution of patriarchal and gender inequality issues portrayed in the selected African novels; Kyomuhendo’s The First Daughter, Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero and Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, to highlight the magnitude of the evolution of both patriarchy and gender inequality issues in Africa. From the broader sociological literary lens, the analysis of the study is presented in five chapters. The findings of the study confirm the continuous and intricate threefold evolution of both patriarchal and gender inequality issues in Africa, namely: the subjugation of women by fellow women, the oppression of males by both women and certain patriarchal ideals, and male’s contribution and support to the woman emancipation in patriarchal African societies. The study concludes with two recommendations: firstly, future literary scholars should probe the role of the activism for women emancipation in the marginalization of the male gender (boys and men) in Africa, and secondly, that policy designers across the globe should pay serious attention to the plight of both the man and boy-child, since the continuous evolution of patriarchy and gender has, to some extent, marginalized them, too