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Staff capacities for inclusive teaching and learning of students with visual impairment: a case of public universities in Uganda
No full textEnrolment of students with visual impairment (SVIs) into higher education
is rising globally, hence the need for inclusive learning environments and
practices in universities. Academic staff are pivotal in ensuring inclusive
practices in universities, given their pedagogic roles. Drawing on a larger
project, this paper explores academic staff capacities for inclusive teaching
and learning of SVIs in three public universities in Uganda. The study
employed a qualitative interpretivist approach, specifically a case study
design, and was theoretically informed by the social model of disability.
Data was collected from three purposively selected public universities that
enrol SVIs, from a sample of 73 respondents, comprising 17 academic staff,
09 academic leaders (4 Faculty Deans, 5 Heads of departments), 29 SVIs,
and 18 administrative staff, using interviews, focus group discussions
(FGDs), document analysis and non-participant observations. All data sets
were analysed thematically. Findings show minimal staff capacities for
inclusive teaching and learning of SVIs. The majority of the staff lacked
awareness and sensitivity to the SVIs’ learning needs due to poor
coordination and information flow across university units that interface
with students with disabilities. Staff capacities to adapt teaching and
assessment processes for SVIs were also low, attributed to a lack of formal
training and orientation in teaching SVIs, except for staff with academic
backgrounds in special education and disability studies. The findings
underscore the role of staff training in inclusive practices informed by
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and better coordination
among university units for holistic, inclusive participation of SVIs
Universities’ capabilities and effective implementation of e-learning in public universities in Kampala city, Uganda
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic restricted access to campuses of universities
owing to intermittent lockdowns. Consequently, educational institutions
were forced to adopt virtual teaching techniques to ensure continued
teaching and learning. However, the effective implementation of online
education in universities in Uganda faced capability challenges that
hindered its effectiveness. Therefore, this study investigated the influence
of universities’ capabilities on the effective implementation of e-learning
in public universities in Kampala City, Uganda during and beyond the
COVID-19 pandemic period. Anchoring in resource-based theory (RBT),
universities’ capabilities for effective implementation e-learning studied
included experimentation, integration capability, and content management.
Using the quantitative approach, cross-sectional data was collected from a
sample of 312 academic staff from Kyambogo and Makerere Universities,
the only two public universities located in Kampala City, Uganda. Data wascollected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data was analysed
using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved
the calculation of means while inferential analysis involved structural
equation models (SEM) using SmartPLS. The results revealed that content
management and integration capability positively and significantly predicted
e-learning implementation. However, experimentation negatively and
insignificantly predicted e-learning implementation. The study concluded
that content management and integration capability are vital for e-learning
implementation. Nonetheless, experimentation is not a probable requirement
for the effective implementation of e-learning. Therefore , it was recommended
that university managers should develop integration capabilities, and should
support lecturers to improve their content management, but experimentation
should not be prioritised in the implementation of e-learning
Exploring clinical supervision practices: a comparative study of a public and Private Primary Teachers’ College in Uganda
No full textx, 99 p. ;This study sought to explore clinical supervision practices undertaken in pre-observation, observation as well as post-observation phases in selected Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs) in Uganda. Informed by Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development, the study employed a qualitative approach, specifically a case study design, comparing clinical supervision practices using a case of a public PTC as well as a private PTC, in order to elicit best practices from each case, to inform the improvement of the quality of teachers produced by PTCs in Uganda. The data was collected from tutors and student teachers using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and lesson observations. The data was then analyzed using Creswell’s (2014) six-step data analysis procedure and findings elicited to address the research questions of the study, particularly eliciting clinical supervision practices undertaken within the pre-observation, observation and post-observation phases in selected PTCs in Uganda. First, the findings as regards the pre-observation phase revealed that PTC 2, a private institution, demonstrated the best practices in the pre-observation phase specifically in class allocation, topic allocation, tutor allocation, making and marking schemes of work while PTC 1, a public institution demonstrated best practices in lesson planning, making instructional materials, conducting demonstration lessons as well as pre-observation meetings. Second, as regards the observation phase, PTC 2 demonstrated best practices in checking pupils’ written activities, signing the SP assessment sheet, documenting progress, and grading as compared to PTC 1 whose best practice in this phase was in observing lessons. Third, within the post-observation phase, PTC 2 demonstrated best practices in documenting progress and grading as compared to PTC 1 whose best practices in this phase were conferencing, building rapport, self-assessment as well as setting an agenda for improving the next lesson. Both institutions can pick lessons from the other’s strengths. Further, both institutions showed gaps in documentation, microteaching, using audio-visual gadgets as supervision tools to capture data, as well as the faultfinding focus of the supervisors. The study recommended best practices in demonstration and group micro-teaching sessions; guided scheming and lesson planning coupled with provision of model schemes and lesson plans; guided creation, display and use of teaching aids, observation of the entire lesson; checking learner workbooks; joint tutor-student post-conferencing, signing of feedback sheets, training in the use of audio-visual gadgets and anecdotal records as tools to supplement and support clinical supervision; creating a jovial mood in order to build confidence in student teachers, giving student teachers opportunities to first talk about their taught lessons; tutors always leaving assessment reports with student teachers after post conferencing as well as helping student teachers to set strategies for improving the next lesson. As pointers for further research, the researcher recommends a future focus on challenges of clinical supervision in Government and private teachers’ colleges in Uganda, eliciting the experiences and/or perspectives from the stand point of schools of practice and exploring clinical supervision practices using mixed or quantitative approach in order to make the findings generalizable
An ensemble model based on learning vector quantization algorithms for early detection of cassava diseases using spectral data
No full textIn Sub-Saharan Africa, cassava is the second most significant food crop after maize. Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic virus disease (CMD) combined account for nearly 90% of productivity losses. Automating the detection and classification of crop diseases could help professionals diagnose diseases more accurately and allow farmers in remote locations to monitor their crops without the help of specialists. Machine learning algorithms have been used in the early detection and classification of crop diseases. Previous research has used plant image data captured with smartphones. However, disease symptoms must be observable to use this strategy (using image data). Unfortunately, once symptoms appear on the aerial part of the plant, the root, which is the edible part of the plant, is destroyed. In this study, we used spectral data in a three-class classification challenge for diagnosing cassava diseases. We propose an ensemble model based on Generalized Learning Vector Quantization (GLVQ), Generalized Matrix LVQ (GMLVQ), and Local Generalized Matrix LVQ (LGMLVQ). Experimental results revealed that the LGMLVQ model had the best overall performance on the precision, recall, and F1-score followed by our proposed ensemble model, the GMLVQ model performed third, and finally GLVQ model. Also, using an accuracy performance metric, LGMLVQ had overfitting issues even though it had the highest accuracy of 100%, followed by our proposed ensemble model with an accuracy of 82%, and then the third in performance was the GMLVQ model with an accuracy of 74% and the least performed model on accuracy was GLVQ model with an accuracy of 56%
Critical success factors influencing project performance of local road contractors in Uganda: a case study of selected districts in north eastern Uganda
No full textxiii, 102 p. ;This research established critical success factors determining project performance of local road contractors in the selected districts in north eastern Uganda. Local road contractors face challenges of time overrun, which leads to cost overrun, poor quality performance, leading to client dissatisfaction. In order to overcome these challenges, this research sought; to establish factors that impact on project execution of local road construction companies, to ascertain the effects of the established factors on road project implementation and to develop a framework to improve road project performance. A descriptive investigative research design was used, with mixed methods. The study population consisted of contractors, supervising engineers, client representatives, District/Town Engineer, local leaders and civil society organizations from which a sample size of 69 respondents was selected using simple random and purposive sampling methods. Questionnaire survey and interviews were the methods for data collection. Data were later analysed using relative importance index (RII) and regression analysis. The study examined a total of four factors and established that funding, ethical practices and technical capacity are the major critical factors that influence the performance of local road projects while managerial efficiency had no critical effect. It was further established that funding, ethical practices and technical capacity have significant (p<0.05) impact on road project performance, from which a framework to improve on performance of local road contractors was developed. The study concluded that critical success factors are; technical capacity, financial capacity and ethical practices.
Key words; Success Factors, Projects, Performance, Local Road Contractors, Districts, North Eastern Uganda
Corporate governance practices and financial performance of firms: a case of listed companies on the Uganda securities exchange
No full textxii, 47 p. ;The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of corporate governance practices on financial performance, a case of listed firms on the Uganda securities exchange. The study specifically examined the effect of board size, board independence and separation of ownership and control on return on sales, return on assets and return on equity. The study therefore adopted three hypotheses that were used to test the objectives and was guided by two theories, the agency theory and stakeholder theory. The study used a longitudinal research design adopting a quantitative approach. The study population was all firms on the Uganda securities exchange with a target population of fifteen firms. The study used regression analysis to address the study objectives, a Hausman specification test permitted use of the random effects model as the most appropriate. The study established that there is a significant effect of board size and separation of ownership and control on financial performance. However, it revealed that the number of non-executive members has a statistically insignificant effect on firm financial performance. The study therefore recommended that existing listed companies of USE should consider downsizing the board membership seeing that it has no ensuring benefits but rather increased costs resulting in poor or low returns and also advocate for increase in ownership concentration as this would increase financial performance
Effect of land use activities on water quality, soil and vegetation cover for conservation of river wambabya catchment, hoima district
No full textxi, 72 p. : ill. (some col.) ;Increasing land use activities are greatly decreasing environmental quality of River catchments thus, making them susceptible to pollution and depletion. The land use activities such as human settlements, massive deforestation, oil infrastructural developments, conversion of wetlands into subsistence farmland, and agroforestry were increasing within River Wambabya catchment. However, there was no empirical evidence of the present status of the water quality, soil and vegetation cover in the river catchment hence necessitating a research study. The overall objective of the research study was to evaluate the effect of land use activities on the water quality, soil and vegetation cover for conservation of River Wambabya catchment, Hoima District. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of land use activities on the water quality (pH, EC, COD, BOD, Total phosphates, nitrates, Pb, Escherichia coli, and total coliforms) of River Wambabya catchment; to assess the effect of land use activities on the soil (pH, EC, Heavy metals-Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd) of River Wambabya catchment; and to determine the effect of land use activities on the vegetation cover of River Wambabya catchment over a period of 20 years (1998-2018). The study used a simple random sampling technique during collection of water and soil samples. Water quality and soil parameters were analyzed using American Public Health Association (APHA) standard analytical procedures. Heavy metals in water were analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) while soil heavy metals were analyzed using Mehlich- 3 extraction method buffered to pH 2.5. Vegetation cover change of 20 years (1998-2018) was analyzed using Landsat 8 images and ArcMap 10.8 version. Results showed that land use activities had significant effect on water quality BOD (p value of 0.021) at p<0.05. Subsistence farmland (7mg/l), and wetland (6mg/l) activities were the major contributors of high BOD levels. Land use activities also had a significant effect on the concentration levels of soil Zn (p value of 0.048), Ni (p value of 0.020), and Pb (p value of 0.037) at p< 0.05. Subsistence farmland, and agroforestry were the major sources of high Zn, Ni and Pb concentrations. lastly, land use activities had a significant effect on the vegetation cover of river Wambabya catchment. There was a drastic increase in built-up areas (5.38%), and subsistence farmland (1.04%) with a reduction in vegetation cover under Bushland (1.97%), forests (2.58%), grasslands (7.56%), open water (1.23%), wetlands (1.42%) and woodland (1.39%) over the 20-year period. Subsequently, natural resources conservation efforts are required in river Wambabya catchment area so as to improve its sustainability and co-existence with human livelihoods. Particularly, more conservation efforts are needed to halt the deteriorating water quality and reducing vegetation coverage of the catchment. Further in-depth studies can be conducted on the temporal variations of vegetation cover and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the soils of the RWC due to the increasing mining and oil and gas development
The aesthetics of Ugandan literature: a study of selected works
No full textix, 75 p. ;This study set out to critically explore the Aesthetics of Ugandan Prose Fiction in selected literary works, such as Timothy Wangusa’s Upon this Mountain, Violet Barungi’s Cassandra, Mary Karooro Okurut’s Milking a Lioness and Goretti Kyomuhendo’s The First Daughter. The study focused on the critical analysis of the ‘artistic properties’ of each of the selected works that endear them to the reading public in Uganda, and beyond—how, as Munro puts it, “the art has impacted on peoples’ moods, beliefs, and attitude towards life” (Munro, 2). The study set out with three objectives, namely: to apply the African aesthetic principles in the critical appreciation of the selected works; to apply Western aesthetic principles in the analysis of selected works; and to draw conclusions from the aesthetics of the selected works. The study employed the documentary analysis method which belongs to a qualitative research design. This involved a close-reading of both primary and secondary sources of data. In the application of both African and western aesthetic principles to analyze the aesthetics of the selected Ugandan literary works, it was discovered that the selected authors, Kyomuhendo, Wangusa and Karooro used a mixture of African and Western aesthetic principles. Barungi, on the other hand, adroitly and religiously stuck to western principles in language and style. Nevertheless, Barungi’s novel has allusions and themes that are typically Ugandan and African. The study concludes that the charm of the four selected Ugandan fictional works sprung from aesthetic dualism: the writers used both African and western aspects of beauty that enabled the selected Uganda fiction succeed in being a page turner. Finally, the study recommends the inclusion of aestheticism as a core component of literary theory and criticism given its remarkable influence on African literary production, among others
An afro-bibilical reading of genesis 2-3 in response to climate change
No full textThe primary focus of this paper is an Afro-biblical reading of Genesis 2-3, informed by indigenous epistemologies and in response to contemporary local and global environmental crises. Using the context of Uganda, it brings African spiritual sensitivities about nature into conversation with Genesis 2-3. Based on archival and ethnographic research, the questions directing the investigation are: how can African spirituality inform reading of Genesis 2-3? What is the significance of Afro-biblical reading in responding to the problems of climate change
Woven narrative sculptures on survivors of human trafficking at omuti kreativ, lweza, wakiso, Uganda
No full textxiv,135 p. : ill. (some col.) ;The purpose of this study was to produce woven sculptures and a visual pocket guide that create awareness about the dangers of human trafficking among young girls at Omuti Kreativ, Lweza, Wakiso district. It was guided by three objectives: 1.) to find out the causes of human trafficking among young girls at Omuti Kreativ, Lweza, Wakiso district, 2.) to create woven sculptures that highlight the dangers of human trafficking among young girls derived from the narratives of survivors at Omuti Kreativ, Lweza, Wakiso district, 3.) to design a visual pocket guide that creates awareness about human trafficking for the youth in Uganda. This study was qualitative in nature, employed a case study research design with focus on Omuti Kreativ where ten female survivors of human trafficking were sampled. The respondents were purposively selected and collection of data was through methods like in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus group discussions, photography and reviewing documentary evidence. Findings revealed that; majority of the survivors were subjected to dangers of human trafficking like forced labour, sexual servitude, smuggling, psychological torture, involuntary servitude and to a lesser extent organ trafficking. These findings were subjected to studio exploration which resulted into production of eight sculptures: five free standing and three relief, wearable sculptures namely imprisoned by the passport, abatambuze (a set of three sculptures), ekyama, ekyambe 1, ekyambe 2 and munyambe. Subsequently, the sculptures were integrated into a visual pocket guide that creates awareness about human trafficking to enable accessibility to more people. The researcher recommended that the survivors need to be educated about their working rights, the law and how best it can protect them within these foreign work destinations, all learning institutions in Uganda ought to emphasize hands-on skills among the youth aimed at producing more job creators than job seekers, law enforcement personnel and policies in regard to human trafficking need to be revised and strengthened, more visual research needs to be conducted on human trafficking through art exhibitions to spark off both internal and external discourse among the pub