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.
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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
Interpretable spatial machine learning framework for evaluating malaria intervention effectiveness in Northern Uganda
(Uganda Chrisitian University, 2026-10-14) Sseguya, Henry
Malaria prevalence among children under five in Northern Uganda remained high in 2024-25 (37.4%), similar to 2018-19 (35.6%), despite a 13.2 percentage point rise in insecticide-treated net (ITN) coverage. This study examined why prevalence stagnated while coverage increased. It used Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) data on 3,627 children in 110 clusters in Northern Uganda. The methods were wave-interaction logistic regression, Random Forest classification with SHAP value decomposition, and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA). The association between ITN use and malaria reversed between waves (OR: 0.72 to 1.56; interaction OR = 2.38, p< 0.001). This reversal is better explained by confounding by indication, pyrethroid resistance and net degradation than by a real loss of protective effect. There was no significant wave interaction for indoor residual spraying (IRS) (OR = 1.03, p = 0.903). SHAP analysis identified a non-linear coverage threshold: the largest protective differences were associated with ITN coverage of 12% to 15%, below which population-level protection did not occur. Older children within the under-five group were the most affected, with the odds of malaria rising with each month of age in both waves. Prevalence differed sharply between sub-regions, from 14.9% in West Nile to 56.8% in Karamoja, and malaria was spatially clustered in both waves (Moran’s I = 0.28 and 0.31, p = 0.001). Hotspots persisted even though their ITN coverage was higher than in cold spots, showing that coverage alone has not reduced the burden where it is greatest. Successful malaria control in Northern Uganda requires a shift from aggregate coverage targets to spatially stratified, hotspot-based ITN distribution. PBO net scale-up should be accelerated in pyrethroid-resistant areas. IRS structural coverage should reach at least 85 percent to achieve community-level impact. Spatial surveillance should be built into national health information systems. These measures should be implemented as a package rather than as separate vertical programmes, because coverage gains are not enough when resistance and degradation reduce net efficacy. NMCP distribution should be coordinated using evidence from repeated MIS waves, so that programmatic decisions are based on sub-regional burden data.
Safety Management Practices and Safety Performance on Road Construction Projects in Uganda: A Case of Busega- Mpigi Expressway (23.7km)
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-10-13) Ibrahim Kawuya
Background and Purpose: This study examined the relationship between safety management practices and safety performance on the Mpigi-Busega Express Highway road construction project. It focused on safety compliance, safety training, and safety participation.
Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional mixed-methods design. Data were collected from project personnel using questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and documentary review of Health, Safety and Environment records. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Findings: The findings revealed positive and statistically significant relationships between safety performance and safety compliance (r = .782, p < .001), safety training (r = .832, p < .001) and safety participation (r = .732, p < .001). Together, the three practices explained 86.3% of the variation in safety performance. Safety compliance made the largest unique contribution in the combined regression model, followed by safety training and safety participation.
Conclusion: The study concluded that effective safety compliance, continuous safety training, and meaningful worker participation are important for improving safety performance in road construction. However, gaps in the consistent enforcement of safety requirements, ongoing training, and worker feedback remain areas requiring improvement.
Recommendations: The study recommends strengthening safety inspections and enforcement, introducing continuous refresher training and practical assessments, and establishing structured worker participation and feedback mechanisms.
Self-esteem, stress, and utilization of counselling services amongst secondary school students in Jinja City
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-10-11) Mande, Dennis
The study focused on studying self-esteem, stress and utilization of counselling services amongst secondary school students in Jinja City and was guided by objectives, namely, to find out the level of self-esteem amongst secondary school
students in Jinja City, establish the level of stress amongst secondary school students, determine the relationship between self-esteem, stress and utilization of counselling services amongst secondary school students and examine the role of counsellors in helping students in Jinja City secondary schools deal with stress. The study approach was explanatory sequential mixed method, and a cross-sectional design was used. Using both questionnaires and interview guides, data was collected from a sample size of 353 respondents who were selected using simple random and purposive sampling. Of these, 346 were students and 7 were counsellors. The study found that largely students had good self-esteem; students were averagely stressed; Counselling Services Utilization was positively correlated with self-esteem (r=.46, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with stress (r=-.35, p<0.01); while stress was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r=-.23, p<0.01). And finally, the study also found that counsellors help students cope with problems, provide a safe environment for the students to air out their challenges without being judged, help students by showing them how to avoid problems and recommend students for medical treatment. In conclusion, students had an average amount of self-esteem but with a significant amount of stress that could be attributed to their academic needs and other life challenges. However, counsellors are in a position to help them deal with the various challenges they face, and therefore, it was recommended that schools ensure that they employ professional counsellors to ensure quality counselling services, as this will help in improving the utilization of the services.
Rewards and teachers’ job satisfaction in selected government aided secondary schools in Kumi district, Uganda
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-10-12) Ingaru, Deborah
This research was about rewards and teachers’ job satisfaction in selected government aided secondary schools in Kumi District, Uganda. The purpose of the study was to find out how rewards influence teachers’ job satisfaction in the selected government aided secondary schools in Kumi District, Uganda. The researcher used a cross-section survey design, both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of 195 respondents were used: 07 headteachers, 07 chairpersons PTA, 01 DEO and 180 teachers. Purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used for selecting respondents. Self-administered questionnaires and interviews were used as data collection instruments. Study findings showed that teachers are rewarded in different ways both monetary and non-monetary but generally, most of them are rewarded through salary payment, given meals, through praise for good work done and some given PTA allowances. Teachers are not rewarded through professional growth and development and few of them had benefited from promotions. Study findings further showed that teachers’ levels of intrinsic satisfaction with their job were high due to love and passion for their profession. Most of them however, especially of arts subjects were not extrinsically satisfied due to disparities in payment of salaries compared to teachers of science subjects. It was concluded that salary payment and allowances enhance teachers’ job satisfaction. Basing on the above findings, it is recommended that the government needs to ensure that salaries of arts subject teachers are enhanced to the tune of their science counterparts, to foster equal pay for equal work. It was also recommended that all schools should have staff quarters to save teachers from trekking long journeys to school.
Factors influencing utilization of day six postnatal care services among mothers attending health facilities in Nwoya district, Northern Uganda
(Uganda Christian University, 2026-10-12) Ladwong, Atim Mary
Introduction: Utilization of Day Six Postnatal Care (PNC) services is essential for early detection and management of maternal and neonatal complications within the first week after delivery. However, uptake of these services remains low in many low-resource settings, including Uganda. Utilization is influenced by individual, obstetric, and health system factors. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing utilization of Day Six postnatal care services among mothers attending health facilities in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design using a quantitative approach was employed. Data were collected from conveniently selected postpartum mothers attending YCC in two selected health facilities of Anaka Hospital and Alero Health Centre III using structured questionnaires. A total of 461 respondents were included in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with utilization of Day Six postnatal care services. Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and findings were presented in tables and text. Results: The uptake of Day Six postnatal care services was low, with only 23.2% of mothers attending the service, while 76.8% did not utilize it. Utilization was significantly associated with several factors. Mothers with secondary education and above were more likely to utilize Day Six postnatal care compared to those with no formal education (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 1.41–8.78; p = 0.007). Urban residence was associated with higher utilization compared to rural residence (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.26–3.98; p = 0.006). Mothers who attended antenatal care during their last pregnancy were more likely to utilize Day Six postnatal care compared to those who did not attend ANC (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.18–4.92; p = 0.015). Facility delivery was positively associated with utilization compared to home delivery (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.18–0.78; p = 0.009). Other significant predictors included caesarean section delivery, premature birth, shorter distance to health facilities, childbirth complications, positive provider attitude, and receipt of adequate information during care. Conclusion: The utilization of Day Six postnatal care services in Nwoya District was low and was influenced by individual factors (education and residence), obstetric factors (ANC attendance, mode of delivery, birth outcomes, and complications), and health system factors (distance to facility, provider attitude, and information provision). Strengthening maternal health education, improving access to services, enhancing quality of care, and promoting continuity of care from ANC through delivery and postnatal periods are essential to improve uptake of Day Six postnatal care services.