Mak IR Repository (Makerere University)
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Political marketing in the digital age: a critique of Uganda Government’s Communication Strategy of 2022 to address online political dissent
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Master’s in Strategic and Corporate Communication of Makerere UniversityThis investigation examined the Uganda Government‘s Communication Strategy (2022) as a political marketing tool to address online political dissent within the broad view of harnessing digital platforms for public and political participation while protecting citizens‘ freedom of expression. The strategy, which is a revision of the 2011 communication strategy, was developed to enhance its communication capabilities and foster a positive national and international image. Central to this strategy was the proactive monitoring of mainstream and social media to track opposition activities and promote a favourable government image. Employing a qualitative methodology, this study analysed the communication strategy, communication policy documents, and the regulatory and legal framework within which the strategy operates, including article 29 (1)( a) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. The study further analysed supreme court rulings and judgements in respect to freedom of expression, for example, Justice Joseph Mulenga‘s ruling in Charles Onyango Obbo and Andrew Mwenda v Attorney General, Constitutional Appeal No.2 of 2002 in which the journalists overturned their conviction for publishing false news. The Communication Strategy of another jurisdiction, the United Kingdom, was analyzed to examine political marketing practices that harness digital platforms for public and political participation. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with Uganda government officials, political marketers, government and non-government communication specialists, online political activists, academics, and civil society leaders, to critically assess how the Uganda government‘s communication strategy intersects with public and political participation, and freedom of expression. The study was premised on political marketing and critical political economy theories. The findings reveal that while the Uganda Government‘s Communication Strategy supposedly aimed to enhance the effectiveness of government communication by integrating digital platforms, its execution tends to skew towards controlling and suppressing online political dissent, something that contradicts political marketing practices. Indeed, such a tendency has fostered a climate of increased surveillance and monitoring of online discourse, which stifles the broader discourse necessary for public and political participation. Particularly, criminalising online political dissent is inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression as provided by the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. This study explored the dissonance between the government‘s narrative of enhancing communication and the reality of some of its practices that suppress online political dissent by legal or extra -legal means inconsistent with engagement to persuade as postulated by proponents of the political marketing theory. This highlights the critical gap between policy intentions and their practical implementations, underscoring the need for a reevaluation of the implementation of the communication strategy. The dissertation argues that, for Uganda ‘s communication strategy to be effective, it must not only advance government transparency and responsiveness but also foster an environment that upholds and protects freedom of expression, public and political participation, as enshrined in the Constitution. This research contributes to the field of political communication by highlighting the nuanced challenges of implementing communication strategies in the digital age and political environments, and suggests pathways for aligning such strategies with political marketing practices
Enhancing choir ministry in liturgical celebrations in Kimanya Parish light of Musicam Sacram
No full textA research paper submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of Master's Degree in Religion and Theological Studies of Makerere UniversityThis dissertation explores the role of choir ministry in liturgical celebrations in Kimaanya Parish, with a focus on enhancing its effectiveness in light of the Church's document Musicam Sacram (1967). The study aims to investigate the current state of choir ministry in the parish, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies for enhancing its contribution to liturgical celebrations. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and observations. A survey of 85 parishioners gathered data on their perceptions of choir ministry. Semi-structured interviews with 15 choir members, 5 priests, and 5 liturgical committee members provided in-depth insights. Observations of 10 liturgical celebrations helped assess the current state of choir ministry. The study reveals that while choir ministry is valued in Kimaanya Parish, its effectiveness is hindered by several factors, including: Limited musical training and resources, inadequate liturgical formation, Poor communication and collaboration between choir members, priests, and liturgical committee, Inconsistent application of Musicam Sacram guidelines. Based on the findings, this study proposes the following strategies to enhance choir ministry in Busega Parish: Provide liturgical formation for choir members and parishioners, Foster collaboration and communication among stakeholders, Encourage active participation of parishioners in liturgical celebrations. This study contributes to the ongoing conversation about the role of music in liturgical celebrations, highlighting the importance of choir ministry in enhancing the parish's liturgical life. By implementing the proposed strategies, Kimaanya Parish can revitalize its choir ministry, fostering a more vibrant and participatory liturgical experience for all
Retention in care among people living with HIV initiated on ART the same day of HIV diagnosis in Mpigi District
No full textIntroduction: Retention in HIV care following same-day ART initiation is a critical element that is closely associated with optimal individual and public health outcomes. The People Living with HIV who are retained tend to have better survival, improved health, and achieve viral load suppression. The study determined the prevalence of retention and its predictors at 24 months following same-day ART initiation at public facilities.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort design involving analysis of program data in the period January to June 2020 and final outcome determined by June 2022 at public facilities. The quantitative data determined the proportion of PLHIV retained in care and associated predictors. Qualitative explored enablers and reasons for non-retention. The quantitative data was extracted from EMR, ART cards, HTS, and ART registers. Key Informants Interviews with clinicians and nurses in ART clinics and FGDs with PLHIV on ART were conducted. Quantitative data was analyzed using Stata version 17.0, descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate modified Poisson regression analysis was done. Qualitative data analysis involved coding and thematic content analysis.
Results: A sample of 416 People Living with HIV was extracted from ART registers and EMR, and 405 People Living with HIV were included in the final analysis. The median age was 29(23-38) years with interquartile range Q1-Q3. Females were 64.4% and males 35.6%. Most of the participants (70.9%) were married, never married (17.5%) and 9.9% had divorced or separated. The majority were in clinical stage I (86.4), and Stage II (10.4%) while Stage III and IV were 3%. Those with CD4 cell count greater than 200 Cells were 80.6%, less than 200 cell count (19.4%) while Normal BMI (57.5%), pre-obese (19.3%), underweight(17.3%%) and obese (5.9%). The prevalence of retention was 46.2% (187). PLHIV with less than 3-month refills and a history of missing appointments were less likely to be retained in HIV care aPR 0.63 (0.51-0.79)) and aPR 0.72 (0.63-0.83) respectively. There was no significant difference in retention by age and sex. Peer and social network support, disclosure, use of counsellors, longer ARV refills, Community ART refills, privacy, confidentiality, telephone reminders, and home visits were facilitators of retention in HIV care while stigma, discrimination, ARV shortages, faith, traditional beliefs and suboptimal relationship with health workers hindered retention in HIV care among PLHIV.
Conclusion: Retention in HIV care following same-day ART initiation is low. However, multi-month dispensing and peer support play a pivotal role in improving retention following same-day ART initiation. The Ministry of health needs to enhance the peer support system in HIV clinics through capacity-building efforts and training on minimum HIV packages.Fogarty Rakai - Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP
Banker – customer lending dispute resolution mechanisms and their impact on debt finance in Uganda
No full textA dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the award of a Master of Laws Degree, Makerere University, School of LawThe banking industry is at the forefront in the provision of credit that fuels several other industries in economies around the world – this is achieved through debt financing. Customers default on loan agreements is not an uncommon occurrence and banks usually depend on established legal mechanisms to collect debts efficiently. The study focuses on the nexus between law, banker – customer lending dispute (BCLDs) resolution and the impact on debt finance in Uganda. The research adopted the doctrinal methodology with a mixture of comparative, analytical and historical approaches which were used to evaluate different resolution mechanisms available to a BCLD and their impact on debt finance in Uganda. Data was obtained from both primary and secondary sources is used to draw the nexus between the various BCLD resolution fora and debt finance and to that extent, the study finds that: mainstream judicial forum and litigation are laden with prolonged procedures that render dispute settlement an expensive endeavor and resultantly tied up needed capital; mediation, whereas relevant, is limited by its non-mandatory nature is susceptible to abuse; arbitration, although desirable, is limited by both limited awareness and uncertainty as to its applicability to lending disputes that are premised on mortgages and land whose dealings are mostly a preserve of the registrar of titles and the high court. The research compared the above with the prevailing innovations in other countries including Nigeria and South Africa where alternative dispute resolution efforts like debt counsellors, ombudsmen, and civil procedure rules for BCLD resolution exist respectively. The study finds that the legal framework for each BCLD resolution forum individually and uniquely affect debt finance in Uganda. The study therefore recommends that arbitration and mediation be prioritized as the resolution platforms for creditor-debtor disputes. Further, there is need to create a specialized court or tribunal or rules of procedure for litigation and judicial enforcement of banking lending disputes, these innovations are working in South Africa and Nigeria
Terrorism as a construct for subjugation in selected east African novels
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Literature of Makerere UniversityTerrorism as a concept has had shifting codes of meaning across both time and place. The rejection of a universal meaning and the multiplicity of official and unofficial opinion suggests a possible constructedness of terrorism as a concept. The shifting arises from the tendency of authorities and powerful groups to mediate trends in the discourse(s) within their own contexts. As such, the meaning-making in the discourse remains fluid and susceptible to manipulation by these sections of society to advance personal interests. This study is a literary exploration of the hegemonic manipulation of the terrorism discourse as a tool to create, maintain and extend power and privilege over subaltern classes. To achieve the objective, the study undertakes a comparative analysis of the portrayal of terrorism both at home in East Africa and in the West using postcolonial theory propositions as advanced by Gayatri Spivak’s (1989), Edward Said (1978), Frantz Fanon (1967), and Achille Mbembe (2021). Using the case of Nuruddin Farah’s Hiding in Plain Sight and North of Dawn, and Giles Foden’s Zanzibar, the research focusses on race and ethnicity/nationality, religion, and gender as defining attributes of the Self and the Other in the hierarchy of power. The texts demonstrate that groups positioned differently on the power ladder are interpreted subjectively in the official state and mainstream terrorism narratives, with authorities and other powerful and privileged groups manipulating the narrative(s) to define and control the subaltern. In the end, the subaltern is dislocated from the centre of power and relegated to the periphery, and the subsequent power struggles feed into the terrorism discourse that further justifies this marginalisation and oppression
Characterisation, epidemiology and management of rice yellow mottle virus disease in Uganda
No full textA thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture of Makerere UniversityRice (Oryza sativa L) is a critical global food crop, providing 20% of calorie intake for over 3.3 billion people. In Uganda, annual rice production is approximately 350,000 MT, contributing $104 million in import substitution. However, domestic production falls short of demand, largely due to low yields (2.5 tons/ha) caused by pests and diseases. Rice yellow mottle virus disease (RYMVD), caused by Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), is the most significant biotic constraint, with yield losses ranging from 10–100%. Despite introducing resistant varieties, RYMV infections have increased, particularly in new areas like northern and western lowlands. The surge in infections and reports of resistance-breaking isolates suggests the virus may have mutated, necessitating deeper investigation. This study aimed to enhance knowledge of RYMV diversity and epidemiology for improved management in Uganda’s lowland areas. The research objectives included: assessing the occurrence and distribution of resistance-breaking isolates, quantifying molecular diversity and relationships with African strains, and evaluating pesticide use and variety mixtures in managing RYMV dynamics. Using DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR, and differential cultivars, resistance-breaking isolates were confirmed, predominantly in eastern Uganda. The rymv1-2 gene was found ineffective, while rymv1-3 and rymv1-5 were identified as reliable candidates for resistance breeding. Molecular analysis revealed limited RYMV diversity (3% nt, 1% aa) among Ugandan isolates, clustering closely with strains from Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, but distant from West African isolates. A novel RT-PCR diagnostic assay targeting the coat protein region was optimized, detecting RYMV with high accuracy. Field trials demonstrated that Neem oil application and variety mixtures significantly reduced RYMV spread and vector diversity. Applying insecticides during the juvenile plant stage minimized yield losses. These findings suggest prioritizing rymv1-3 and rymv1-5 for breeding programs, alongside gene pyramiding strategies. The developed assay offers a rapid detection tool for screening new cultivars, and further largescale trials on pesticides and variety mixtures are recommended for validatio
Assessing the opportunities and challenges of adopting urban and peri-urban agriculture into cities (case study of Kampala City)
No full textA research report submitted to the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Degree of Master of Science in Land Management of Makerere UniversityThis study assessed the opportunities and challenges of adopting urban and peri-urban agriculture in Kampala City. The study was guided by objectives that included assessing the spatial changes in agricultural land use in Kampala City, the opportunities of adopting urban and peri-urban agriculture in Kampala City, and the challenges encountered in this adoption. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design and incorporated both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The study targeted a sample size of 80 respondents, with 75 responding: 70 were urban/peri-urban farmers, and 5 were KCCA officials. Data from the field were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed spatial changes in agricultural land use in Kampala City, evidenced by thematic land use maps spanning from 2002 to 2021. These maps highlighted a concerning trend of diminishing open spaces and an increase in built-up areas. The reduction in available land for agricultural purposes, from nearly 40% in 2002 to less than 10% in 2021, underscores the significant challenges facing urban and peri-urban agriculture in Kampala. The key opportunities identified for urban agriculture included bolstering food security, generating employment, increasing income, and promoting environmental sustainability. However, the study also highlighted several challenges, such as limited land space, unclear land tenure systems, and mindset and attitude barriers. Additional obstacles included the perception of high expenses, lack of skilled labor, and inadequate policy support. The study recommended exploring zoning policies that prioritize agricultural activities in urban development plans, incentivizing the conversion of underutilized spaces into productive agricultural land, and promoting vertical farming techniques to maximize land use efficiency in densely populated areas. There is a critical need for research examining the development and implementation of robust policies to support the adoption of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Kampala City. Robust enforcement mechanisms are urgently needed to ensure compliance with regulations governing urban and peri-urban agriculture. Lastly, the Ministry of Lands should strive to clarify and formalize land tenure systems, providing tenure security to urban farmers and incentivizing long-term investments in agricultural activities
Assessing the impact of tax policies on the growth of small and medium enterprises in Kawempe division Kampala district.
No full textA research report submitted to the College of Business and Management Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Master of Economic Policy Management of Makerere UniversityThe growth of the world’s economy has been heavily reliant on taxes. This study assessed the impact of tax policies on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kawempe division Kampala district. Specifically, the study examined the effect of: tax registration and assessment on the growth of SMEs; tax rates on the growth of SMEs; and effect of tax incentives on the growth of SMEs in Kawempe division Kampala district. The study adopted a descriptive research design and data was collected from a sample of 300 business operators in Kawempe division, using administered questionnaires. Data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation; and the inferential statistics used were Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Findings indicated: a positive weak significant relationship between tax registration and assessment and growth of small and medium enterprises in Kawempe division (r= 0.122, P<0.05); a positive weak significant relationship between tax rates and growth of small and medium enterprises in Kawempe division Kampala (r=0.120 and P-Value<0.05); and a moderate positive relationship between tax incentives and growth of small and medium enterprises in Kawempe division (r=0.430, p-Value<0.01). Findings indicate that tax registration, tax rates, and tax incentives jointly account for 23.1% of the variations in the growth of SMEs in Kawempe division (Adjusted R2 = 0.231). The study concluded that Tax Incentives have the strongest positive and significant influence on SME growth, reinforcing the importance of maintaining and enhancing incentives to foster business growth. Although Tax Rates and Registration had a weaker impact compared to tax incentives, they still contribute positively to the overall model, highlighting the need for a balanced approach in tax policy design. The study recommended that: The Ugandan government should establish an efficient and competitive tax rate system that is aligned with the economic conditions of SMEs. Lower tax rates would reduce production costs, stimulate sales, and ultimately foster SME growth. To enhance tax incentives, the government should strengthen tax incentives, such as investment deductions and tax holidays, to support SME development. These incentives help reduce operational costs, encourage investments, and provide critical support to new businesses that may lack access to financing in their early stages. To improve Tax Registration and Compliance, efforts should be put to simplify and make the process more transparent could improve compliance and encourage businesses to formalize their operations
Factors associated with hospital-acquired diarrhea among children (0-59 months) with severe acute malnutrition at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala District
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Makerere University School of Public Health in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of a Master’s Degree in Public Health Nutrition.Introduction: Hospital-acquired diarrhea remains a major global public health concern and is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition. In Uganda, Hospital acquired diarrhea is among the top causes of morbidity and mortality in children severe acute malnutrition under five years, leading to a significant health and economic burden on the country.
Objective: To assess the risk factors of Hospital- Acquired Diarrhea among children with severe acute malnutrition (0-59 months) at Mwanamugimu nutrition unit Mulago, Uganda.
Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection were used. An unmatched case-control study conducted among children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit. A total of 17 cases (those with diarrhea) and 34 controls were selected. The qualitative study involved 10 Key Informant Interviews with the Health Workers and 12 In-Depth Interviews with the care takers who were purposively selected to provide their experiences about managing HAD in the same setting. Quantitative data was analyzed using Stata 17.0. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis in ATLAS. ti 6 software.
Results: From the quantitative, a total of 51 children were recruited in the study; the mean age was 15 (±1) months, majorities 62.8% (32/51) of the children were female. The odds of hospital-acquired diarrhea (HAD) among children with SAM was 5.15 (OR=5.15; 95%CI: 1.35 – 10.84). Factors associated with Hospital-Acquired Diarrhea were care takers who faced challenges in managing HAD (AOR=3.9; 95%CI: 1.98-7.67), and sharing rooms with children having diarrhea (AOR=2.65; 95%CI: 1.11-6.32). From the qualitative, the health workers challenge of managing HAD included; delayed detection, inadequate hygiene practices, limited isolation facilities, staff shortages, caregiver exhaustion, infection control issues, patient malnutrition, financial strain, and lack of proper sanitation supplies, all complicating effective care and management.
Conclusions and Recommendations: The risk of HAD at Mwanamugimu is high. Risk of developing hospital-acquired diarrhea (HAD) included; facing problems regarding management of HAD, and sharing rooms with children having diarrhea. There is need to educate care takers of children admitted with malnutrition on personal hygiene measures in the nutrition unit and isolation of children having diarrhea from those without diarrhea
Mitigating distribution shifts in machine learning-based prediction of foot and mouth disease outbreaks for enhanced preparedness in Uganda
No full textA thesis submitted to the College of Computing and Information Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology of Makerere UniversityFoot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has affected Uganda for over 60 years, causing significant economic losses in the livestock industry, with a 23% decrease in income for stakeholders and market values for bulls and cows reducing by 83% and 88%, respectively. Previous research utilized machine learning (ML) models to predict FMD occurrences for enhanced preparedness in resource-constrained endemic countries. However, these models were validated in stationary environments, which do not account for real-world distribution shifts where the underlying statistical properties of the dataset change over time, leading to degradation in predictive performance. This study aimed to improve ML-based predictive performance for FMD outbreaks under distribution shifts for enhanced preparedness in Uganda. The research employed an experimental design across six phases. First, a literature review identified key risk factors for FMD outbreaks, guiding data source selection. Second, historical data was collected retrospectively from various sources. The third phase focused on data preprocessing, using techniques including mean imputation, duplicate removal, and visualization, along with a two-way statistical approach to detect distribution shifts. In the fourth phase, seven ML algorithms including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Classification and Regression Tree, Gradient Boosting Machine, Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbor, and AdaBoost were trained while class imbalance was concurrently addressed using data augmentation techniques. The fifth and sixth phases involved testing and validating these models to evaluate their performance under distribution shifts. Two approaches were explored to enhance model performance: a data-centric approach that integrated techniques including borderline-SMOTE, active learning, probabilistic calibration and pseudo-labeling, and a model-centric approach that involved tuning and stacking Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine, and AdaBoost. The findings indicated significant distribution shifts in rainfall and maximum temperature. Rainfall yielded a test value of 0.1215 with a p-value of 0.0000, while maximum temperature yielded a test value of 0.0833 with a p-value of 0.0024. In comparative performance analysis, Random Forest with borderline-SMOTE was the top model under stationary conditions, achieving 92% accuracy, an Area Under the Curve of 0.97, recall of 0.94, precision of 0.90, and an F1-score of 0.92. However, under varying distributions, its accuracy dropped to 46%, with declines in othe