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The Role of Savings and Lending Groups in the Financial Inclusion of Rural Women Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of IMPABARUTA Cooperative in Kamonyi District, Rwanda.
No full textThis article examined the role of savings and Lending Groups (SLGs) in promoting small business creation among rural women entrepreneurs, using
IMPABARUTA Cooperative in Kamonyi district. It is aimed at assessing how SLGs facilitate the establishment and growth of small enterprises, and
how they impact women’s access to financial resources. A descriptive research design was employed to explore the role of SLGs. A purposive sampling method was used to select 200 respondents from 408 Cooperative women members. Structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document reviews were used for data collection. The main findings revealed the transformative role of savings and lending groups in promoting financial inclusion among rural women in Kamonyi District, Rwanda. A paired t-test revealed significant increases in savings (from 50,000 Rwf to 500,000 Rwf) and loan access (from 10% to 80%) after joining the IMPABARUTA Cooperative. The statistical results underscore the groups’
effectiveness in enhancing financial habits and credit availability. These changes economically empower women, allowing them to invest in enterprises and promote broader community development, particularly in underdeveloped rural areas. Further, challenges such as trust issues
Research Agenda 2020 - 2025
No full textResearch is a critical activity in policy development and implementation. It provides the
evidence needed for decision-making. Research in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
is a channel of knowledge creation and dissemination that makes HEIs relevant to society
by influencing development policy; creating knowledge needed for teaching and learning;
contributing to national, regional, and international development through the sharing of
research information and expertise; and improving the ranking of HEIs. In these regards,
research should constitute a proportionately large percentage of activities and resources
at universities. There is sufficient evidence indicating that universities with a clear
research roadmap, increased investments in research, and increased research outputs
have a higher potential for growth.5 The KABRA shall provide a roadmap for research
activities and show the footprint of Kabale University in the knowledge society.Kabale Universit
Teacher reward challenges and student academic performance in selected secondary schools in Luwero district.
No full textPoor academic performance remains a major challenge in Luwero District, mainly attributed to a disproportionality in teacher reward systems. Thus, this study was intended to explore how teacher reward challenges, affect student academic performance in selected secondary schools in Luwero District. Using the descriptive research design, data was collected from a sample of 108 participants. The findings were that the teachers and administrators enrolled, showed that teacher reward challenges like meager payment 77.3%, rewards not on merit 63.9%, no recognition 66.0%, inadequate funding for teachers reward 85.6, poor management of teacher reward systems 76.3% and salary delay 84.5% influences student academic performance. The current teacher reward systems may indicate that these challenges continues to have a significant impact on student academic performance. Interventions targeting teacher reward systems, particularly on monetary and non-monetary reward, non-delayed salaries, no meager payment, recognition aspects, are vital
Stakeholder Participation and the Effective Management of Urban Central Markets in Uganda: A Case of Kabale and Mbarara Central Markets
No full textThis study critically examined the extent and efficacy of stakeholder participation in the management of formal urban public markets in Uganda, with the objective of identifying strategies to enhance participatory governance for improved market administration. Despite the Government of Uganda’s ongoing investments in urban market infrastructure - aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 on sustainable cities and communities and Uganda’s Third National Development Plan (NDP III) priorities on urbanization - public markets have increasingly become sites of tension and conflict. These disputes stem largely from ineffective governance frameworks, insufficient stakeholder inclusion, and administrative deficiencies at both local government and vendor-group levels. Drawing upon Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation as a theoretical lens, this research interrogates the nature of vendor engagement in decision-making processes. The study was guided by four core objectives: (i) to identify major avenues for stakeholder engagement; (ii) to assess the level of participation in planning; (iii) to evaluate stakeholder involvement in policy implementation; and (iv) to analyse participation in management-level decision making. A pragmatic research paradigm informed the study’s mixed-methods design, integrating quantitative data from structured questionnaires administered to vendors (n=586) and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with market authorities and vendor leaders (n=9). Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Ethical approval was secured from the Kabale University Research Ethics Committee and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. Key ethical principles - including informed consent, confidentiality, and data security - were rigorously observed. Findings reveal that stakeholder participation remains superficial and largely symbolic, characterised by tokenism rather than genuine empowerment. Vendors are seldom granted meaningful influence over policy formulation or management decisions, and existing consultative mechanisms - such as focus groups and workshops - are inconsistently applied and lack enforceability. Furthermore, the absence of capacitybuilding initiatives, particularly in financial literacy, governance, and leadership, significantly impairs vendors’ ability to engage effectively in market governance. In response, the study proposes a Stakeholder-Centred Governance Model, grounded in four foundational principles: capacity building, integrated policy frameworks, comprehensive communication strategies, and feedback mechanisms. The model seeks to institutionalise participatory structures that reinforce transparency, accountability, and equity in urban market management. This research contributes substantively to the discourse on participatory urban governance by offering empirically grounded insights and actionable frameworks for policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners seeking to foster inclusive, efficient, and sustainable public market systems in Sub-Saharan African cities
Boda-boda Business Activity and Socioeconomic Transformation in Wakiso District, Uganda
No full textPurpose: This study established the effect of Boda-boda Business Activity (BBA) on socioeconomic transformation in Wakiso District, Uganda.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive design with quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total of 89 respondents were determined from 114 people at the boda-boda stage in Kitemu. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics. SEM was employed to establish the causal effect between the variables.
Results: The results indicated that people joined BBA to earn a living to support their families (Mean=4.4; Std.D=0.756), due to a lack of jobs (Mean=4.07; Std.D=1.055), and ease of repairing motorbikes (Mean=3.85; Std.D=1.417). Furthermore, BBA had a significant effect on socioeconomic transformation (β=0.392; p˂0.000).
Conclusion: The BBA has the potential to bring substantial socioeconomic transformation, including employment creation (mean=4.0), improved mobility (mean=4.12), and stimulated local commerce (mean=3.79) in Kitemu Ward. Thus, the BBA had a positive effect on socioeconomic transformation (β=0.392, p<0.001).
Limitation: The study employed a descriptive survey design on motorbike riders in Kitemu Ward, which might hinder generalization of the study findings. Thus, more studies need to be conducted using different research designs on a larger sample of boda-boda stages in Wakiso. Contributions: This study provides information to the Ministry of Work and Transport on how the boda-boda sector can be improved to enhance socioeconomic transformation in Wakiso
From Political Rhetoric to Concrete Actions – A Human Rights-Based Approach to the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa
No full textThis article examines the relevance and application of a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. The authors argue that the HRBA anchored on the principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and inclusion, and accountability and rule of law offers a transformative framework for operationalising development in line with human rights standards. Drawing on the 2003 United Nations Human Rights-Based Approach to Development Cooperation framework, the paper explores how African states can adapt HRBA mechanisms to local governance realities to empower marginalised populations and strengthen state accountability. It further analyses the relationship between human rights and the SDGs, proposing HRBA as a pragmatic avenue for integrating human rights norms into sustainable development processes. Through a discussion of both the advantages and challenges of HRBA implementation, the authors conclude that aligning the SDGs with human rights obligations can foster inclusive, equitable, and accountable development outcomes across the continent
Socioeconomic sustainability of bioenergy exploitation in Uganda: A GBEP-indicator narrative review
No full textThe socioeconomic implications of bioenergy exploitation in Uganda have not been sufficiently assessed through comprehensive frameworks, such as the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) sustainability indicators. Existing studies are fragmented and primarily sector-specific, which limits the identification of cross-cutting challenges and constrains evidence-based policymaking. This study applies, for the first time in Uganda, a comprehensive set of GBEP socioeconomic indicators through a structured narrative review organized into seven thematic do-mains. The analysis focused on three dominant bioenergy pathways: firewood, charcoal, and organic residues/ waste, which define Uganda’s bioenergy landscape. Relevant publications were selected based on their alignment with the selected indicators and bioenergy pathways in Uganda. Despite the scarcity of empirical data, partic-ularly in peer-reviewed sources, the review demonstrates clear trends. Traditional bioenergy contributes significantly to employment and national energy access, while also presenting persistent gender disparities and environmental risks. Transitioning to modern bioenergy systems may exacerbate land tenure disputes and food security concerns. However, the sector holds notable untapped potential: bioenergy-based power generation has reached 112 MW, with an estimated capacity of 1.65 GW, and energy from residues and waste remains underutilized at 737.7 PJ/year. Key research priorities emerging from this assessment include cookstove per-formance metrics, the bioenergy–food nexus, human capital development, charcoal substitution strategies, and energy diversification. The findings not only underscore the novelty of applying GBEP comprehensively in Uganda but also provide actionable insights for policy aimed at balancing energy access, livelihoods, and sustainability
Setting Priorities for African Postoperative Pain Research Through an International Delphi Process
No full textAcute postoperative pain remains a significant challenge in Africa, with prevalence rates of moderate-to-severe pain reaching 91.4–95%, exacerbated by resource constraints, inadequate training, and policy gaps in low- and middle-income countries. This perspective article employs a modified two-round Delphi process involving 174 multidisciplinary experts from 25 African countries to identify the top 10 research priorities and three key strategies for addressing postoperative pain. Priorities, ranked by consensus magnitude, include evaluating current practices, developing cost-effective multimodal analgesia, enhancing regional anesthesia training, assessing patient satisfaction, identifying barriers/enablers, examining impacts on surgical outcomes, exploring preemptive analgesia roles, addressing pediatric barriers, and predicting acute/chronic pain risks. Strategies emphasize developing regional anesthesia guidelines, harmonized multidisciplinary curricula, and context-specific pain assessment tools. These priorities aim to inform evidence-based policies, optimize resource allocation, and improve patient-centered care across diverse African settings
Social Media Platforms Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises Use to Enhance Market Performance in Wakiso District, Uganda
No full textSocial Media Platforms are a supreme medium of communication between businesses and customers to enhance Market Performance in contemporary times. However, social medial platforms remain underexplored in the local literature, despite their usefulness to market performance. Thus, the study examined the common social media platforms used by manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance market performance in Wakiso district, Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design targeting 2,279 SMEs from 340 SMEs were determined using the Yamane formula. Data was collected through structured questionnaires using KoboCollect tool, and interviews. Thereafter, data was analyzed using SPSS v.23 to generate frequencies and percentages. Results indicated that WhatsApp (51%) and Facebook (35%) were the predominant platforms employed by manufacturing SMEs while YouTube (6.2%), Twitter (3.4%) and others (TikTok and LinkedIn) accounted for 4.5%. The results underscore the significant potential of social media platforms in boosting market performance when leveraged effectively. The study recommended that Wakiso district local government and telecommunication providers should consider policy interventions including reducing data costs, sensitization and training programs for different SMEs stakeholders. Further, SME managers should implement regulatory measures to ensure strategic use of social media platforms for sustainable market performance
Effect of women economic empowerment on socio-economic development of Kabale Municipality, Uganda
No full textWomen's economic empowerment has become a foundation for development strategies, and it has increasingly been recognised for its important role in the socio-economic development of many countries. This study examined the effect of women’s economic empowerment on socio-economic development in Kabale Municipality, Uganda. The study was anchored on Sen’s Capability Approach theory and the Human Development Theory. A cross-sectional survey design employing a quantitative approach was adopted to evaluate relationships between the study variables at a single point in time. A sample of 153 respondents was selected from a total population of 203 using the stratified random sampling technique. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and regression statistics on SPSS Version 25.0. Quantitative findings presented through descriptive statistics and regressions revealed that women’s economic empowerment positively affects socio-economic development (R²= 0.763 and p= 0.000≤ 0.005). The study concluded that economic empowerment of women positively and significantly contributes to socio-economic development in Kabale Municipality. Finally, the study recommended that efforts to empower women across the economic dimensions be prioritised to enhance socio-economic growth in the region