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
Exploring the role of retention strategies in shaping employee performance at Masindi municipality
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-08-04) Mukuru, Ronald
The study explored the impact of retention interventions on staff performance within Masindi Municipality. The study was guided by three objectives, that is, to investigate the most common retention interventions utilized, to establish their impact on productivity, and to establish their impact on job satisfaction. A qualitative study with phenomenological study design was utilized and information gathered through interviews of 20 participants. Data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis guided by NVivo software.
The study findings show that reward and compensation schemes, as symbolized by science versus non-science cadre salary differentials, have generated perceptions of unfairness and demotivation which in turn become translated into low productivity and low morale. Whether or not pension schemes exist, bureaucratic inefficiencies have maintained their short-term worth as a retention incentive beyond reach. There are few career advancement programs and short-term capacity-building training workshops but few to sustain long-term professional development. Canceling sponsorships for education, complemented by politically motivated promotions and nepotism, eroded workers' motivation and commitment.
Participative and transformational leadership style was seen to improve the satisfaction of employees, confidence, and morale by appreciating them and involving them in the decision-making process. Job stability as permanent and pensionable employment also provides job retention since it provides financial security and institutional commitment. Putting off confirmation of members of staff on permanent employment erases this stability.
The study concludes that fair remuneration, open career development policy, competent leadership, and ongoing professional development must be embraced to improve staff satisfaction and output. Compensation packages must be rebalanced to remove pay inequality, politicisation of promotion decriminalisation, and postgraduate sponsorship investment must be undertaken, the study advises. Creating a superior work culture and organisational trust is necessary in order to preserve staff performance and human resource retention.
Availability and accessibility of sexual reproductive health services for women refugees: a case of Kyangwali refugee settlement, Maratatu D zone
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-08-03) Inno, Daphine
This study evaluated the SRH Services Availability and Accessibility of women refugees in Kyangwali refugee settlement, Maratatu D Zone. The research design adopted was mixed-methods research which incorporated questionnaires, interviews, observation and a review of the secondary documents. Participants were selected using simple random and purposive sampling techniques and the data analyzed to identify the types of services available, level of access to services and barriers to service utilization.
The results revealed that there was availability of maternal health support and HIV testing services, which were generally acceptable to respondents. But there were still some services that were not available, such as psychological counselling, female condoms and contraceptive options. Long distance to health centres, transportation difficulties and language barriers were found to be significant barriers to access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The study findings indicate that SRH services are available in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, but there are gaps in ensuring equitable access to SRH services for refugee women. It suggests increasing outreach of contraceptive services, enhancing the availability of reproductive health commodities, increasing psychosocial support, and creating safe facilities, and tackling transport and economic challenges to increase access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.
When the war never ends: conceptual limitations, contextual differences and implications for interventions in continuous traumatic stress in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026-09-22) Namusoke, Jane; Enyipu, Akurut Betty; Mayengo, Nathaniel; Bahati, Ronald; Amone-P’Olak, Kennedy
Considerable knowledge has been generated on the symptoms, course, therapy, and care of survivors of traumatic experiences since posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition (DSM-III) in 1980. Notwithstanding this improved understanding, there is still disagreement over the definition, characteristics, and expression of PTSD in various settings. The aim of this paper was to offer a perspective on the limitations of the current conceptualization of mental health problems associated with continuous traumatic stress (CTS), considerations of contextual and cultural differences, and their implications for interventions. Particularly, this perspective aimed to address the generalization of Western therapies in non-Western societies, as well as the limitations of traditional rituals and ceremonies, and their limitations in the treatment of mental illness in the context of unending violent conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In many traditional societies in SSA, trauma is experienced and symptoms are appraised based on the culture of survivors, demonstrating the importance of context in the conceptualization of CTS and the design of interventions. Psychological therapies in the majority of Western societies are based on symptom reduction, which are limited in the context of CTS and traditional cultures. The perspective also discusses different ecosystems in the treatment of trauma using Western and traditional society approaches, as well as the unique nature of the violent conflicts in SSA, and suggests a way forward. Finally, we discuss whether Western evidence-based therapies that are locally and culturally grounded and traditional rituals and ceremonies are mutually exclusive, particularly in the context of CTS and mass trauma that uniquely affect individuals, families, communities, and different subpopulations.
Assessing the consistency between pastors’ public ministry and their personal and family spiritual lives: a case of Mpenja archdeaconry, Central Buganda diocese
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-07-15) Bwanika, Michael Eric
This study examined the consistency between pastors’ public ministry and their personal and family spiritual lives within Mpenja Archdeaconry, Central Buganda Diocese. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the extent of consistency between public ministry and private life, to identify factors contributing to discrepancies, and to propose strategies for promoting pastoral integrity. A qualitative case study design was employed, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from pastors, their spouses, and key informants. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by Transformational Leadership Theory, particularly the concept of idealized influence. The findings revealed that while pastors strongly emphasize spiritual values such as prayer, holiness, and faith in their public ministry, significant inconsistencies exist in their personal and family spiritual lives. Key factors contributing to these discrepancies include ministry workload, burnout, lack of accountability structures, cultural expectations, and family pressures. The study further identified practical and theological strategies for addressing these challenges, including strengthening personal spiritual discipline, promoting family-centered ministry, establishing accountability systems, and enhancing institutional support. The study concludes that pastoral integrity is a holistic reality requiring alignment between preaching and lived experience. It recommends a shift from performance-oriented ministry toward a more integrated and formation-centered approach to pastoral leadership.
The effect of financial management practices on the effectiveness of pastoral mission in North Ankole diocese
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-07-22) Nuwagaba, Samuel Baker
This study investigated and analyzed the effect of financial management practices on the effectiveness of pastoral mission in North Ankole Diocese, with the aim of identifying best practices and recommending strategies for improved financial stewardship that enhances pastoral impact and community service. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the effect of existing financial management practices on the effectiveness of pastoral mission in North Ankole Diocese; to identify the challenges in financial management that affect the diocese’s ability to fulfill its pastoral mandate effectively; and to suggest strategies for improving financial management practices to enhance pastoral mission effectiveness in North Ankole Diocese.
The study employed a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between financial management practices and pastoral mission effectiveness. The main participants were clergy (ordained ministers) and members of the diocesan finance department, supplemented by a random sample of lay Christians. Data were collected from 80 respondents using structured questionnaires administered to 60 lay Christians, and semi-structured interview guides used with 20 key informants comprising 10 clergy and 10 finance staff. The study was conducted in North Ankole Diocese within Kiruhura and Kazo districts, covering the period 2015 to 2025. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), and qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
The study found that financial management practices in North Ankole Diocese are characterized by significant deficits in transparency, accountability, and systematic support for pastoral mission activities, as evidenced by the majority of church members’ negative perceptions and the qualitative testimony of clergy and finance staff. The study further found that the most significant challenges are inadequate and irregular financial resources, poor financial planning and budgeting, and pervasive financial illiteracy among parish leadership. The study recommended that the diocese should establish a unified financial reporting and accountability framework covering all levels, institute a biannual mandatory Financial Management and Stewardship Training Programme for parish leadership, and develop a five-year Financial Management Transformation Strategy incorporating mobile money systems, revenue diversification, and a dedicated grants and resource mobilization function