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Assessment of the capacity of the monitoring and evaluation system components at Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau
No full textIntroduction: The demand for institutionalization of monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems across all sectors has brought to light the notable gap in the adoption, design and correct use and functionality of the M&E system components in many institutions including medical bureaus. The generation of data and subsequent information in the M&E cycle is now a key management focus, the application of M&E information in management and core M&E functions like learning and accountability is an emerging field but still a big concern in the health sector.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the capacity of the M&E System components at the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau with the view of understanding the M&E capacity, identify gaps, and recommend approaches to strengthen it in order to enhance the core management functions of accountability and learning at the bureau.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a mixed method approach was employed using the Monitoring Evaluation Capacity Assessment Tool (MECAT) to collect data from Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau, the scores of the components the M&E system were assessed based on the four dimensions of status, Quality, financial autonomy and technical autonomy, these four-dimension areas had scores that were uploaded on a self-administered online tool on kobo collect. The study population was staff from UCMB who provided the study sample of 21 members. The data was analyzed using STATA to generate descriptive statistics to ascertain the extent of performance of the M&E system components at UCMB. Qualitative data was analyzed using NVIVO to generate themes and narrative to support the quantitative data.
Results: The overall average status score of the M&E system components out of 10 was as follows: organizational structure (9.46), Human capacity for M&E (5.00), Partnerships and Governance (6.96), Organizational M&E plan (8.07), Annual Costed UCMB M&E Plan (9.29), Advocacy, Communication, and Cultural Behavior (8.57), Routine monitoring (9.11), Surveys and Surveillance (6.43), National and Subnational Databases (5.36), Supervision and Auditing (8.04), Evaluation and Research (4.64), Data demand and use (8.21).
Excerpts from the qualitative
There is no particular mission statement for M&E and I don’t think anybody can point it out, the overall objective of the M&E system is to support the tracking, reporting and systematically organize the relevant data that can be used in the UCMB Network, and provide a platform where our stakeholder can know what UCMB is doing, (KII,001, a senior staff in M&E)
The M&E unit has no stand-alone mission or values but largely all this feed into the UCMB mission since M&E is unit within UCMB which is a department of the Uganda Episcopal conference, in addition we also have regular weekly meetings. Finally, according to the respondents; UCMB holds monthly M&E meetings. (KII,004, program management staff)
UCMB has policies and procedures that guide M&E function but also has well defined partnerships with Nkozi University and George Town university which has helped them develop the capacity of the M&E function, and strengthen policies, (KII,001, a senior staff in M&E unit of UCMB).
What you need to know we have never undertaken a system assessment for a while most were done by the Uganda Health System Strengthening Activity. A respondent further said; “we run many scattered projects here which have one M&E port now, but we have not reached the point of absolutely linking the plan to the overall UCMB strategy (KII,001 a senior M&E staff)
Conclusion: Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau has varying levels of performance across different M&E systems components, components where the monitoring and evaluation system under performed include evaluation, database management and skills that were significantly lacking were in areas of evaluation and research. UCMB should consider routine assessment of their M&E system components, in addition UCMB should consider partnerships with teaching institutions so as to grow their skills and also learn how to lead and institutionalize the M&E system functions. UCMB must invest in training staff internally and build a critical mass of home-grown technical competence, and also mobilize resources to run all the M&E functions as a long-term solution to achieve technical and financial autonomy for sustainable M&E functions. Failure to invest in these areas will see perpetuation of the identified gaps and this will hinder the effective execution of the current M&E system components
Beliefs and perceptions of women towards bilateral tubal ligation; a qualitative study at Kawempe national referral hospital
No full textA research dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Makerere UniversityIntroduction: Globally, the uptake of bilateral tubal ligation, a permanent method of contraception remains very low despite being the most effective contraceptive method. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of beliefs and perceptions towards BTL among women in Uganda, a country where 44% of all pregnancies are unplanned with an abortion rate of 54 per 1000 women. Methodology: This was a qualitative phenomenological study conducted at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling to include women seeking family planning services (any method) at Kawempe National Referral hospital, Kampala Uganda. These were interviwed through focused group discussions and in-depth interviews. Inductive thematic analysis of the collected data was done using NVIVO version 12 software to generate data codes, themes and sub themes. Results: Mothers were found to have a varied range of beliefs and perceptions towards BTL. Many participants perceived BTL as a permanent and effective method of contraception and exhibited confidence in long-term effectiveness. Women also believed that BTL gives them life convenience and an increased sexual freedom. However, sseveral participants expressed concerns about the irreversibility of BTL, with some describing the decision as a “final” step that leads to feelings of regret and loss of fertility. Participants also expressed worries about complications such as death in theatre, effect on sexual life and exposure to unnecessary side effects such as pain at the incision site and heavy menstrual bleeding. The influence of male partners was another major theme, with several participants reporting that their decision to undergo BTL was shaped by their spouse's opinions, either as encouragement or disapproval.Conclusion: While many women recognize the benefits of BTL, misconceptions, concerns about health risks, regret and fears of losing femininity, remain a point of concern among mothers. Addressing these concerns through enhanced education and involving partners in the decision-making process could improve women's understanding and acceptance of BTL
Exploring the efficiency of design and build practices on budget and cost management on a construction project: case study-design and build of Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (NAPRIC) in Busitema University
No full textA research proposal submitted to the Department of Construction Economics and Management in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Master’s Degree in Construction Management of Makerere University.This research investigates the effectiveness of Design-Build (DB) practices in managing budget and costs on construction projects, focusing on the case study of the Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (NaPRiC) at Busitema University, Uganda. Through a comprehensive analysis of project documentation, interviews with key stakeholders, and a site visit, the study aimed to assess the impact of DB on cost control, collaboration, and project outcomes. The findings revealed that while DB can offer advantages such as early contractor involvement and improved communication, challenges like scope changes, delays, and unforeseen site conditions can still impact project costs. The research highlights the importance of effective project management, clear communication, and a well-defined project scope for successful DB implementation. By understanding the factors influencing DB's effectiveness, construction professionals and policymakers can make informed decisions to optimize project delivery and achieve better financial outcome
Representation of men and women in Uganda’s television adverts: towards a gender equitable advertising industry
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the award of the Master’s Degree in Strategic and Corporate Communication of Makerere UniversityThe need for more inclusive and equitable gender representations in television adverts is an ongoing global debate. This research investigated gender representations in Uganda´s television adverts. Its objectives were to examine the representation of men and women in the Ugandan television advertisements, to investigate the distribution of roles between men and women in Ugandan television advertisements, and to establish reasons why men and women are portrayed the way they are in Ugandan television advertisements. Drawing on Social Role and Feminist Media theories, this research employed a qualitative approach and adopted a sequential research design. Key findings of the research are that men feature more in adverts compared to women in form of primary characters and voice overs or narrators. This research also established that women are usually depicted as caregivers, homemakers, housewives, and primarily responsible for domestic chores while men are presented as professionals, experts, superheroes, and primarily responsible for the development of society. The research also found that the depiction of men and women in television adverts is influenced by various economic, cultural, industrial, and social factors including prevailing societal norms regarding gender roles, consumer preferences, the lack of diversity within the advertising industry, the lack of a regulatory and accounting body for advertisers, and the commercial drive to maximize profits among others. Amidst these factors, which are a hinderance to equitable gender representations in television adverts, this research recommends further research into the topic incorporating a wider sample. The research further recommends that advertisers should exhibit men and women in capacities that challenge societal norms and existing gender stereotypes, as well as dialogue and collaboration among advertisers, media practitioners, and advocacy groups to promote more inclusive representations of gender in advertising
Failure analysis of Onload tap changers using static / dynamic resistance measurement test method
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Power Systems Engineering of Makerere University.On-load tap-changer (OLTC) failures occur year after year in Uganda’s electricity transmission industry. The OLTC is a popular component of power transformers in the electricity transmission industry and its failures contribute to 40% of power transformer failures worldwide. In Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), 65% of failures are attributed to OLTC failures and as of 31.10.2022 the entire 66/11kV Lugazi sub-station in central Uganda is still down due to failed OLTCs. The failure of such components often leads to voltage regulation problems in the affected power transformers. In most cases, this leads to the failure of the power transformers or the operation of the transformer at half power capacity, which affects the supply of quality electricity to customers. Failure of the OLTCs with the transformers running can result in catastrophic outages and loss of equipment and revenue for the Government of Uganda. Quantitative results were obtained after performing the static/dynamic resistance measurement (SDRM) tests and evaluating the measurements by comparing one phase to another. This was done under the following standard IEEE C57.152-2013 (IEEE Guide for Diagnostic Field Testing of Fluid-Filled Power Transformers, Regulators, and Reactors) which states that the resistances between phases are within 5% of each other. The results show fluctuations in different resistances of the different phases of the power transformer and for each tap position. These were mainly analysed with the primary test manager and Microsoft Excel and conclusions were drawn about a suspected failure of the OLTC contacts. In addition, an algorithm was developed that helps to detect failures in the OLTC before such failures occur. To do this, the arc which always occurs in the OLTC when voltage fluctuations occur in the transmission network was monitored. This causes the tap selector to move from one tap to the other to compensate for the loss or rise in transmission line voltage
Assessing the management of public service pension schemes among the retired primary teachers in Kayunga District
No full textA research report submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training of Makerere University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Master’s Degree of Business AdministrationThis study aimed to assess the management of public service pension schemes among the retired primary teachers in Kayunga district. Using the primary data, the study employed mixed methods of analysis to examine how management of public service pension schemes affect the retired primary teachers in Kayunga district. The data used in this study was sourced from field interview visits and observations during data collection exercise. The findings indicated that the majority of respondents were aged between 66 and 70 years, primarily in the later stages of life, with females representing 55% of this group compared to 45% males. Of these respondents, 45% had served between 10 and 20 years, and the most common retirement category was observed within 15 to 20 years of service, accounting for 40%. Pension disbursement efficiency was rated as very poor by 87% of respondents, citing challenges such as corruption (65%), administrative delays (40%), and difficulty accessing pension services within the district (25%). The study recommended simplifying the process for accessing these funds, enhancing communication to increase transparency and inform pensioners of the relevant officers and information needed for their applications, and providing better funding to ensure the financial stability of the pension scheme
Prevalence and factors associated with use of unrecommendable cord care substances among women 15-49 years in Uganda; a retrospective cross-sectional study
No full textA research dissertation submitted to Makerere University College of Health sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Makerere UniversityIn 2021, globally, 2.3 million neonates aged 0-28 days died, amounting to approximately 6,400 deaths per day, with Uganda accounting for 81 daily deaths. Sepsis, partly caused by poor cord care, is responsible for 18.2% of these deaths, contributing to over 700,000 neonatal deaths annually. Therefore, adhering to recommended cord care practices is critical for preventing newborn infections. Despite various guidelines, the extent of compliance with these recommendations in Uganda remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of using non-recommended substances for cord care, document the various substances used, and assess the factors associated with the use of non-recommended substances among women of reproductive age in Uganda. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 19835 women aged 15-49 years. Women were included if they had given birth within the past year prior to the survey. Data on cord care practices, socio-demographic factors, cultural factors, maternal factors, health service utilization, and health system factors were collected. The prevalence of using non-recommended substances for cord care was computed using weighted samples while adjusting for clustering. Modified Poisson models from the generalized linear models (GLM) family with log link function and clustered standard errors were used to determine factors associated with the use of nonrecommended substances for umbilical cord care, using Stata version 15. Results: The prevalence of using non-recommended substances for cord care was 14% [95% confidence interval (CI: 13.40%, 14.35%)]. Significant factors associated with the use of nonrecommended substances included young maternal age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.5 for mothers aged 15-19 years); religion (aPR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.2-4.2 for Anglicans, and aPR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.7 for Muslims); and postnatal care attendance (aPR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.2- 0.7). Conclusion: The prevalence of using non-recommended substances for cord care in Uganda was high. Key factors associated with this practice included teenage motherhood, and poor postnatal care attendance. Enhancing maternal education on proper cord care during antenatal and postnatal care visits could reduce the use of non-recommended substances, thereby lowering the risk of neonatal sepsis and mortality in Uganda
Exploring coping mechanisms to digital convergence in Uganda’s traditional newsrooms : a case of Vision Group
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts in Journalism and Multimedia of Makerere University.This study explored Coping Mechanisms to Digital Convergence in Uganda‘s Traditional Newsrooms: A Case Study of Vision Group. The study objectives were; to examine how Vision Group newsrooms positioned themselves to cope with the new digital landscape in their journalistic work; to find out how Vision Group journalists adopted new digital changes in their journalistic work, and to find out the challenges faced by Vision Group newsrooms and journalists in their digital adoption process. Media Convergence Theory and Adaptation Theory were the anchors of the study. The research approach was qualitative and the research design was a case study. The study employed a sample size of 12 respondents, including journalists, editors, and managers. The respondents were purposively sampled. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with the selected participants at Vision Group. The findings were presented through a narrative method. This study found that the newsrooms were employing strategies, such as training of newsroom staff, acquisition of mobile apps, adoption of social media platforms, such as Facebook, X and Instagram, restructuring and regrouping of staff, blurring newsroom physical walls and provision of equipment to journalists, to cope with the ever-changing digital landscape. The study further established that journalists adopted the new digital tools in their journalistic work through constant training [through workshops and/or self-teaching], acquisition of modern gadgets, such as smartphones, which they employed to gather news tips from social media platforms. Findings also revealed that journalists adapted to the new changes through training, overcoming resistance towards the new changes, experimenting with multimedia content production and leveraging technology for news gathering and production. Furthermore, this study revealed that in a bid to embrace digital convergence, newsrooms and journalists encountered challenges, including limited digital skills, negative attitude towards the new digital changes, lack of preparedness for the newsroom convergence, lack of the required equipment, high cost of acquisition of digital tools such as mobile apps, fragmentation of audiences across the various social media platforms, and expanded workload due to reduced newsroom staff. Despite these challenges, this study concluded that Vision Group has registered significant progress towards digital transformation. However, the study recommends that the media group devises robust mechanisms of motivating newsroom staff to adopt the new changes such as attendance allowances during training, as this study established that training alone had not done enough to encourage staff in the adoption and adaptation process
Prioritizing sustainability indicators for Uganda's built environment: Expert perspectives using the Delphi technique
No full textThe growing emphasis on energy efficiency within the built environment, driven by global concerns over climate change, has resulted in notable shifts in building energy consumption patterns. Achieving reductions in building energy use and CO₂ emissions through sustainable strategies necessitates the development of country-specific policies. While numerous energy assessment tools are available internationally, they often lack contextual relevance for Uganda and many Sub-Saharan African countries.Therefore, there is a pressing need for a tool tailored to Uganda's distinct climatic conditions. This study aimed to identify key building sustainability indicators to promote energy efficiency in Ugandan buildings. Utilizing the Delphi Technique, experts from academia, construction, energy consulting, and government agencies evaluated 35 building indicators over two assessment rounds. The consensus among experts was validated using the Interrater Agreement, with a significant Kendall's W value exceeding 0.6, rising from 0.655 in the first round to 0.704 in the second. Construction consultants showed the highest W value (0.77) in the second round, followed by energy consultants (0.74), while academicians had the lowest (0.7). The Chi-square test demonstrated strong agreement in ranking indicators across 34 degrees of freedom. The most significant indicators identified include "B20 - Optimization of energy use," "B8 - Advanced design and construction technology," and "B27 - Natural ventilation design," among others. The Delphi Technique was instrumental in achieving expert consensus, while interrater agreement was used to validate and ensure the reliability of the findings. The developed framework provides critical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to advance energy efficiency and sustainability within Uganda's built environment.Embassy of Sweden in Uganda under the Inclusive Markets for Energy Efficiency in Uganda Project under SIDA Contribution no 1298
The efficacy of concept mapping teaching strategy in demystifying alternative conceptions in genetics among diploma students in central Uganda.
No full textA dissertation submitted to the directorate of graduate training in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Master of Education ( Science Education) of Makerere University.This study investigated the efficacy of Concept mapping teaching strategy in demystifying alternative Conceptions in Genetics among diploma students in Central Uganda. The study was guided by three objectives; to identify students' conceptual understanding of chromosome concepts, identify students' chromosome alternative conceptions, and to determine the efficacy of Concept Mapping in demystifying chromosome alternative conception.
This study employed a quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group. The respondents consisted of 40 diploma students of integrated science in Central Uganda. The experimental group was instructed for ten days of 1 hour per day using nine (9) predesigned Institution for Human Machine and Cognition (IHMC) chromosome concept maps. A pretest and post-test Genetic Three-tier Diagnostic Test (GTTDT) of 15 Items was administered to both control and experimental groups.
One way ANOVA Post-Test result indicated statistically no significant mean difference [F (2, 35) =1.24, p=.302] in students' conceptual understanding according to the year of study. Additionally, Posttest one-way ANOVA result, [F (2, 37) = .052, p=.949], revealed no significant mean difference in students’ alternative conceptions in chromosome according to year of study. The posttest independent sample T test showed a statistically significant difference in students' alternative conceptions in chromosome between the control group and experimental group [t (36) = 3.98, p<.05] through the use of Concept mapping.
In conclusion, Concept mapping teaching strategy effectively demystified student’s alternative conception in Genetics. This study therefore, recommends the integration of Concept mapping in teaching Genetics