Kabale University Interdisciplinary Research Journal (KURJ)
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Effects of foreign direct investment on economic growth: evidence from Nigeria and Rwanda
Get PDFRwanda economy is considered to be the fastest growing economy in Africa, with 7.8% growth rate in 2019 as reported in the 2019 publication of African Development Bank. In the recent times, there exists a deep comparison between Nigeria and Rwanda economies which makes it imperative to clear the air on the existing issue and employ the necessary empirical tests to substantiate or refute the argument. Hence, this study investigates the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Economic Growth of both Nigeria and Rwanda. Time series data which were sourced mainly from World Bank, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) covering the period between 1970 and 2018 were used for this study. Growth models were developed for the two countries under study with the inclusion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Net FDI Inflow and Total Export. Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Cointegration and Granger Causality tests for non-stationary time series were employed. The overall result depicts a long run relationship between FDI and GDP of both countries and FDI has a positive effect on Rwanda economy than that of Nigeria in the short-run but converse is the case in the long-run at 5% level of significance. Also, short-run causal relationship exists between the pairs of GDP, FDI, CPI and Total Export of Nigeria at 5% significance level. On the other hand, there exists a short-run causal relationship between GDP, FDI, CPI and Total Export of Rwanda at 5% level of significance. Hence, the study concludes that there is positive effect of FDI on Rwanda economic growth than that of Nigeria
Leadership styles, talent management and employee performance in the hotel industry in Uganda
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to examine how Leadership Styles, Talent Management Impact Employee Performance in the hotel industry in Uganda. This study was cross-sectional and also adopted a correlational research design. Data was processed by SPSS on a sample of 240 hotels. The findings revealed that there is a strong Correlation between LeadershipStyles and Employee Commitment. The study also revealed that there was a strong positive significant relationship between Employee Commitment and Employee Performance with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.918. The study recommends that the management of three-star hotels should train their managers and staff in order to improve the leadership skills of the managers and ensure that leaders should have leadership skills which can improve the effectiveness of their group members hence improving the performance of the employees of hotels as whole. It is also recommended that the managers in hotel industry should improve their interpersonal skills which enables them to build good relationship among themselves and the employers as this boosts high morale and greater job satisfaction which eventually improve their performance
Reverse logistics and environmental sustainability in selected manufacturing entities in Kampala district, Uganda
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to empirically establish the relationship between reverse logistics and environmental sustainability in Uganda, focusing on selected manufacturing entities in the Kampala district. The study employed a cross-sectional design. The study also used quantitative approaches in collecting and analysing the data both descriptively and inferentially. The study population was 675 manufacturing entities. Using the purposive sampling technique, the study took a sample of 248. Data were obtained from 186 usable questionnaires. The researcher applied Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) to test all four hypotheses. The results are presented in terms of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics in terms of correlation analysis, simple regression and multiple regression analysis models. Results indicate that Pearson’s correlation results indicate a relatively moderate, positive and significant association between Green manufacturing and Environmental Sustainability in Kampala industries. The findings show that there was a low but positive correlation (r= 0.480, sig .000, p< .01) between Reverse Logistics and Environmental Sustainability. This implies that any improvements made in reverse logistics can be associated positively with environmental sustainability in Kampala. The study, therefore, concludes that findings are partially supportive of The National Environment Act, 2019; specifically concerning the prohibition of littering, Trans boundary movement of waste and classification and management of hazardous waste. It is therefore recommended that National Environment Management Authority and Uganda revenue Authority work out a rewards system for firms that actively practice Reverse Logistics as this undercuts pollution as reduces waste dumped in water bodies and the environment
Personal and work related factors infl uencing exposed handling of asbestos among dealers in Ifo local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria
Get PDFAsbestos is a common material in buildings and auto-mobile brake system. Inappropriate exposure to it and poor handling are known to be harmful to human health. This study investigated personal and work related factors influencing exposed handling of asbestos among dealers in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive survey research. Multistage sampling was used to select six hundred respondents. Self-developed, structured, expert validated and reliable (r=0.82) questionnaire was used. Frequency counts, percentages and multiple regressions were used to analyze gleaned data. Regression results showed that age, sex and work intensity or magnitude would significantly influence exposed handling of asbestos among the dealers. It was recommended that the policy of companies in the asbestos industry should include work hour regulation, broad based safety training to all staff and youngsters should not be exposed to asbestos. Years of experience should be considered together with appropriate and modern personal protective equipment for all sexes
Development of a fuzzy logic based model for HIV risk analysis and prediction
Get PDFHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) risk analysis and prediction is crucial to effective decision making in sensitizing and providing appropriate support to the population of people in an area. Previous works on applicability of fuzzy logic to HIV analysis and prediction built their models on diagnostic and clinical data of few people who voluntarily submitted themselves for HIV screening test. Besides, most risk factors emanating from socio-cultural, attitudinal, behavioural, and demographic data were not considered in the previous studies. These made the models to have poor analysis and prediction capabilities. This study therefore, aimed at designing a specific HIV risk analysis and prediction model with better prediction capability. The proposed model was designed considering socio-cultural, clinical, behavioural, attitudinal and demographic risk factors relating to HIV risk and the knowledge obtained from experts of Virology Department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC). Research data were collected majorly on HIV from experts and through a google questionnaire sent to individuals and various groups. Fuzzy logic toolbox in MATLAB 2018b and triangular membership function were used to model the proposed system. The results from the study showed that the model developed is reliable in analyzing and predicting HIV risk level of individuals and population of people in an area for effective decision making. In conclusion, the model developed in the study produced a viable tool for HIV analysis and prediction with a linguistic interpretation feature, reliable analysis and prediction capabilities
Debunking the local government malaise under the decentralization policy in Uganda: an analytical treatise
Get PDFSeveral years have passed since Uganda approved decentralization both as a tool of good governance and as a policy of poverty reduction however many regions and districts in the country, including the city authorities, continue to stagger in poverty and development melancholy. Studies conducted at the local/district level show that high levels of poorness and underdevelopment remain. This development paradox is the subject of this article. A review of the current literature and interviews with stakeholders in local government institutions in Uganda, unveil that conflicts, limited resources and continued fragmentation of districts by politicians have been impediments to progress. Hindrances also included the socio-economic and the political. It also portrays gerrymandering and a decrepit state of affairs. This study suggests the sovereignty of local governments, expansion of resource bases through robust methods such as taxation and the institutionalization of public sector reform programs to ensure a sustainable base for social services delivery
Entrepreneurship skills application among ICT Graduates of Muni University, Uganda
Get PDFThe study aimed at investigating the acquisition and application levels of entrepreneurial skills acquired by ICT graduates from Muni University. This study specifically: identifies the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University ICT Graduates; assess the entrepreneurial competency levels of Muni University ICT Graduates; examines the impact of the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University ICT Graduates; evaluates the gaps in the entrepreneurial skills acquired among Muni University ICT Graduates. Questionnaires were administered to a population of 60 former students of Bachelor of Information Systems and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology who graduated from Muni University under the faculty of Technoscience. The graduates that formed the study population were selected, based on their online-availability, from two graduation cohorts of 2017 and 2018. Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (v.21) program was used to analyse the data. The research instrument was reliable at Chronbach’s alpha 0.960. The results of the study identified that the key entrepreneurship skills acquired by Muni University ICT graduates are: innovativeness; business and economic management; human relations and interpersonal skills; and communication skills. The study assessed the entrepreneurial competency levels of ICT graduates of Muni University rated against the industrial expectations. The results show that the graduates are competent in: computer literacy and information technology (ICT applications); creativity, innovation and opportunity identification; life skills (problem solving, time management, decision making, ability to learn and change management); literacy and numeracy among others. The study examined the impact of the entrepreneurial skills acquired by Muni University ICT Graduates and the results show that the graduates had: advanced in their career; acquired jobs; interest in setting their own business; the required knowledge to start businesses; demonstrated innovativeness and problem-solving ability. The study also evaluated the gaps in entrepreneurship skills acquired by ICT graduates of Muni University and the results indicate that the graduates had challenges in: getting finances or loans for starting a new business venture; communications like returning phone calls and emails; taking lead in a group and risk management. The ICT curriculum designers in Muni University should use the findings of this research to improve the curriculum in the courses that relate to entrepreneurship. There is need for the entrepreneurship learning facilitators to: train learners in numerical problem solving; equip learners with information and knowledge on business proposal writing and securing start-up finances; encourage learners to run and grow new business ventures. Acquisition of innovative skills such as creativity, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills to ICT students for job creation should be upheld. In conclusion, ICT graduates of Muni University obtain the necessary entrepreneurial skills required by the ICT entrepreneurial industry. There is a need to continuously conduct more similar studies with other subsequent graduates in order to track the application of entrepreneurial skills by the ICT graduates of Muni University. The researchers also recommend an establishment of system to track Muni University alumni
Antiplasmodial compounds from Millettia dura
Get PDFMalaria still poses a big challenge to the health care of many tropical countries. The plasmodium resistance to the conventional drugs is the major hitch in its treatment. Higher plants have produced single line antimalarials and given important lead molecules. On this basis, flavonoids isolated from millettia dura by chromatographic techniques were screened againest W2 and D6 strains of plasmoduim falcipalum. Both, the crude and pure compounds tested showed mild activities against the test organisms. The crude extract of the stem bark had the highest respective activity of 63.7±8.6 and 46.1±4.5 μg/ml against W2 and D6. Of the pure compounds, milletosin was active towards both W2 and D6 with a respective IC50s of 87.9±8.9 and 66.70±30.3 μg/ml. Synergistic effect might have contributed to the relative high activity of the crude than the pure compounds. Basing on the structure activity relationship of the tested compounds, suitable structural modification could be ideal to enhance the antiplasmodial activity
Micro-credit institution’s services and sustainability of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises during Covid-19 pandemic in Kigezi region south western Uganda
Get PDFThe study examined the effect of Microcredit institutions' services on the sustainability of micro, small and medium size enterprises during the Covid-19 pandemic of the Kigezi region, South Western Uganda. The specific objectives were to: determine the effect of loan provision by microcredit institutions on the sustainability of MSMEs; determine the effect of the provision of the saving account by microcredit institutions sustainability of MSMEs, The study was conducted in the Kigezi region of Uganda. The region has six (6) districts namely: Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Rubanda and Rukiga. The Kigezi region is situated in Southwestern Uganda. The sample size was computed using Yamane's sampling formulae and was based on a 5% level of precision. The research used both descriptive and cross-sectional surveys to gather information from various MSMEs records and panel procedures as well as a supplementary interview as methods of data collection. A cluster sampling procedure was applied to select the enterprises' respondents. Enterprises' owners and managers were the units of inquiry due to their importance as custodians of information on all the activities taking place in their respective MSMEs. The research population was divided into clusters (areas or districts) and the required sample was selected using simple random sampling. The study used an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire to collect the data. This suggests that increases in Loan Provision and Saving Accounts help to increase Sustainability. Results further indicate that of the aspects of Sustainability of MSMEs, Loan Provision has no significant effect (β=0.048, Sig=0.279); Saving Account has a significant effect (β=0.125, Sig=0.001); and Training on Managerial Skills has a significant effect (β=0.309, Sig=0.000). The study concludes that loan provision by microcredit institutions did not sustain MSMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic in Kigezi Sub-Region Uganda, accessing an adequate amount of credit is an important factor in increasing the development and growth of SMEs and increasing Saving accounts will increase Micro-credit Institutions Serviceability of MSMEs. The researchers recommend the use of sensitization of the clients and the use of other marketing tools
Citrus fruit farmers’ adaptation capacities to climate variability in Ngora district, eastern Uganda
Get PDFOver the past three decades the government of Uganda prioritized fruits growing in Teso sub-region as a means to promote socioeconomic development. However, climate variability threatens the realization of this initiative and yet inadequate research has been done to address this gap. This study assessed citrus fruit farmers’ adaptation capacities to climate variability in Ngora district, eastern Uganda. Longitudinal and cross-sectional research designs were adopted in which 135 randomly selected farmers were interviewed. Findings indicated that 82% of the respondents attested that rainfall amounts and temperature patterns had changed with the highest rainfall of 1686 mm received in 1991, and the lowest amount of 785mm received in 2009. Average annual temperatures in the same period varied between 23.8ºC and 25.7ºC. These variations contributed to a drop in orange fruit yields from 90% in 2015 to below 54% in 2016. Overall, 94.8% of citrus farmers were aware of the term climate variability and they associated it to variation in rainfall amounts and distribution, rise in surface temperature and occurrence of droughts; 73.3% of the farmers had positive attitude towards climate variability adaptation especially in instances where it directly affected their livelihoods. Only 21% of the farmers did something to adapt to climate variability through irrigating young orange trees. Conclusively, citrus growing provided an option to poverty eradication, however climate variability threatens farmer’s efforts. In a short-run farmers may be encouraged to work in groups. Overall capital investment on irrigation technology by government and or other stakeholders will offer lasting solutions