UCU Digital Institutional Repository(UCUDIR)
Welcome to the Uganda Christian University Digital Institutional Repositoy (UCUDIR). This is the University's official Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of UCU. This growing collection of research includes peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, working papers, theses, and more.
- The Repository ingests documents, audio, video, datasets and their corresponding Dublin Core metadata
- The aim is to open up this content to local and global audiences, with have optimized well for Google Scholar so your items here shows up on Google Scholar searches
- we also issue permanent urls and trustworthy identifiers, including optional integrations with handle.net and DataCite DOI
Not Registered? click here to Register or or if already registered: Click To submit your Item ::For more information visit any UCU Library branch
Communities in UCUDIR
Select a community to browse its collections.
- Items in this community present a concise summary of information that can help readers understand, and likely make decisions about, government policies.
- This is a collection of Masters and Doctoral theses and dissertations submitted in electronic format to the Uganda Christian University.
Recent Submissions
Understanding meaning in graphic design: a semiotic exploration of visual communication in Uganda
(International Journal of Innovation Scientific Research and Review, 2025-12-30) Mwesiga, Dickson
Introduction: Graphic design plays a crucial role in shaping the processes through which meaning is produced, communicated, and understood in contemporary societies. By employing elements such as images, symbols, colours, typography, and layout, graphic design functions as a visual language that articulates cultural values, identities, ideologies, and social messages. The discipline of semiotics, which studies signs and their meanings, provides a valuable theoretical framework for understanding how graphic design communicates beyond mere visual appeal. This research explores the construction and interpretation of meaning within graphic design practices in Uganda from a semiotic perspective. Methods: The research employed a cross-sectional design utilising a qualitative method. Data were gathered from active graphic designers, art educators, advertising professionals, and members of the general populace. A total of 70 respondents were chosen through stratified random sampling. The data collection was conducted via structured questionnaires and subsequently analysed using descriptive statistical techniques. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by semiotic categories and emergent meanings derived from participant narratives and visual materials. Results: The research indicated that colours, symbols, images, and typography serve as essential semiotic instruments within Ugandan graphic design, utilised to convey cultural identity, social values, and commercial messages. Respondents noted that indigenous symbols and colours are predominantly employed to elicit cultural familiarity, whereas contemporary layouts and typography are influenced by Western design principles. Conclusions: The study establishes that graphic design in Uganda operates as a semiotic system in which meaning is negotiated among designers, cultural context, and audiences. Although global design trends influence practice, local cultural symbols remain significant in the process of meaning-making. Enhancing semiotic awareness among designers may improve the effectiveness and cultural sensitivity of visual communication.
Patterns and determinants of youth employment in Uganda, 2013–2023: statistical evidence and policy implications for African business
(Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia, 2025-12) Owor, Joseph Jakisa
This study examines the patterns and determinants of youth employment in Uganda from 2013 to 2023, using nationally representative data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and macroeconomic indicators from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Bank of Uganda (BoU). The findings indicate that although youth labor force participation remains high, averaging above 70%, structural transformation in the labor market has been limited. Over 60% of youth remain engaged in low-productivity agriculture, with only marginal shifts toward industry and services. Employment absorption in the industrial and service sectors increased by less than 10% over the decade, constrained by skills mismatches, widespread informality, and limited private-sector growth. Gender disparities persist, with female youth less likely to access wage employment and experiencing wage gaps of 15–20%. Spatial inequalities are also evident, as urban youth are nearly three times more likely to secure formal employment than rural youth. Using logistic regression, multinomial regression, and Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition, the study identifies education, household wealth, urban residence, and gender as key determinants of employment outcomes. The results suggest that policy interventions, such as the Youth Livelihood Program, have had limited structural impact due to weak alignment with private-sector demand. The study highlights the need for inclusive industrialization, strengthened vocational training, gender-responsive labor policies, and enhanced public–private partnerships to improve youth employment outcomes and support sustainable economic transformation.
Exploring the feasibility of solar mini-grids for island communities in Uganda: a case of Koome and Damba islands
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2026-04) Agunyo, Miria Frances; Hoeck, Inken; Kizito, Elizabeth Balyejusa; Kyakulumbye, Stephen ; Steurer, Elmar; Waiswa, Jeremy
This study assessed the feasibility of installing solar-diesel hybrid mini-grid systems on Koome Main and Damba Island (Uganda), to bridge the energy access gap in off-grid communities. Despite being economically active, these islands face significant challenges in accessing essential services such as healthcare, education and business infrastructure due to the lack of electricity.
A mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and technical modelling using STATA, Excel and Homer Pro was used to assess the technical, economic/financial feasibility as well as affordability aspects of the project. The results indicate that the installation of solar-diesel hybrid mini-grids of 650 - 950 kW and 300 - 470 kW for Koome and Damba islands respectively were feasible. The economic assessment shows favorable
financial indicators, including internal rate of return (IRR) ranging between 14% - 19% and PBP between 4 - 7 years. In terms of affordability of electricity from mini-grids, a 50% subsidy would be necessary to make electricity affordable for domestic and institutional category spending between UGX10,000 - 30,000. Also, net present cost (NPC) between 1.58 million € and 2.24 million €, LCOE ranging between 0.24 - 0.27 €/kWh which was still less than 0.3
€/kWh for both islands was obtained, further highlighting attractiveness of the solar-diesel hybrid systems for Koome and Damba Islands.
Visual arts practices, needs, and challenges in the implementation of competence-based education in selected schools in Mbarara city, Uganda
(East African Journal of Education Studies, 2026) Mwesiga, Dickson
Competence-Based Education has emerged as a transformative framework within Uganda’s educational landscape, emphasising practical skills, critical thinking, and learner-centred pedagogies. This research investigated the practices, requirements, and challenges associated with implementing competence-based education in Visual Arts across selected secondary schools in Mbarara City, Uganda. Anchored in Constructivist Learning Theory and the Taba Curriculum Model, the study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Visual Arts educators, 6 school administrators, and 2 curriculum coordinators from secondary schools in Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework for thematic analysis was employed to investigate classroom, institutional, and curriculum perspectives concerning the implementation of Competence-Based Education (CBE) in Visual Arts. This methodology offered a comprehensive overview of the efforts and experiences of the participants. The findings revealed that although teachers frequently implement project-based and experiential learning strategies aligned with CBE principles, significant gaps persist in professional training, instructional resources, and institutional support. Major challenges identified included insufficient teaching materials, limited opportunities for professional development, large class sizes, and inadequate integration of CBE-aligned assessment strategies. The study concludes that the successful implementation of CBE in Visual Arts education necessitates continuous teacher training, improved resource allocation, and strong policy support. Recommendations entail targeted capacity-building initiatives, the provision of specialised instructional materials, and the establishment of institutional frameworks to monitor and promote the consistent adoption of CBE practices within Visual Arts classrooms.
Does gender matter in conspiracy beliefs vaccination hesitancy? Evidence from Covid-19 vaccination in Uganda
(Sustainable Development, Culture, Traditions (SDCT) Journal, 2026) Bacwayo, Kukunda Elizabeth; Sebaggala, Richard; Maractho, Emilly; Amaniyo, Mercy; Mwije, Solomon; Kemigisha, Evas; Kobusingye, Jacqueline; Cheremoi, Clare
Whereas countries have made strides in getting citizens vaccinated, many still face the challenge of vaccination hesitancy. Evidence indicates that conspiracy beliefs among citizens influence hesitancy and that these beliefs are contextual; thus differing among individuals. Studies have examined the gender aspect and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs but research is still limited on contextualizing the conspiracy beliefs among the genders and on whether such variations affect vaccination hesitancy differently. This paper examines whether gender is a significant moderating factor between conspiracy theory beliefs and vaccination hesitancy in Uganda, using COVID-19 Vaccination as a case. The study findings on which the article is based are part of a larger study on conspiracy theory and covid-19 vaccination hesitancy. This was an explanatory sequential mixed methods study that included a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews. To establish the relationship between conspiracy belief and vaccination hesitancy across gender, Pearson Chi-square analysis was used to explore the gender differences in intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination and conspiracy beliefs and mentality. There were 1201 participants in the study and 53% of these were females. The findings show that women with strong beliefs in conspiracy theories were more likely to be undecided and unlikely to take up COVID-19 vaccine compared to men with similar beliefs. Men with similar beliefs were already vaccinated. Similarly, females with strong conspiracy mentality were less likely to take up COVID-19 vaccine compared to men with similar mentality. This implies that interventions to improve COVID-19 vaccination should be contextual and consider the gendered differences especially among women who are undecided and unlikely to take the vaccines due to conspiracy mentality.