Browsing by Author "Kwesiga, Philip"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Breaking through traditions: the brick and tile industry in Ankole region, Uganda.
    (Net Journals, 2017-04) Kayamba, William K.; Kwesiga, Philip
    The study investigates the manufacturing process, of bricks and tiles in the Ankole region of Western Uganda, focusing on improvised technology particularly the forming method, innovations, and firing process, together with kiln technology and the environmental issues. The main objective was to investigate how the brick industry has played a role in uplifting the social and economic development of Ankole region, both in rural and urban development. The study involved twenty (20) participants who were engaged in brick making. These were interviewed and later grouped in four (4) focus group discussions (FGDs) for the researcher to obtain a deeper appreciation, understanding of the experiences and opinions about brick and tile making. The findings indicated that brick and tile making have become a lucrative business, because of the high demand of the building products by both the rural and urban communities. However, these activities have had a devastating effect on the environment. In some places, these activities have created pools of stagnant water which have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread malaria in many parts of the region. In addition cutting wood for fuel to burn the products, it has also created a loss of vegetation cover leading to land degradation and extended drought in the region.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Experiments in design process and product development in Uganda’s ceramics.
    (Net Journals, 2014-10) Kwesiga, Philip; Kayamba, William K.
    To evaluate the challenge of design, product development and practice in ceramics, in Uganda, a study of the Ugandan common designs processes and product analysis was undertaken, since 2001 to 2012, largely in Kampala and the suburbs and Western Uganda. The study consisted of both local hand and machine assisted product processes to provide a wider picture of production of what was being undertaken by the pottery strata. The pattern of the potters and their product was somewhat associated with the levels of understanding of their materials, the community they worked in, and the general clientele. Practices in ceramics continue to face challenges in terms of marketing local products given the trends of designs and the influence of pervasive global village. What it translates to is that Ugandan potters need to compete far beyond what had been the original practices some of which have lived for generations. The kinds of design processes employed by most potters tend to be erratic with minimal input in terms of design process and market survey. What most potters have tended to do is to copy whatever is being floated on the market without questioning its viability and sustainability. However, this paper argues that the consumers themselves are not enlightened enough to see the wrongs in some of the product durability and design. It seems that the costing of the product have somewhat undermined the need to develop products that are beneficial to the community for longer than the shelf life.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Gender and traditional pottery practice in Ankole region, western Uganda.
    (Net Journals, 2017-08) Kayamba, William K.; Kwesiga, Philip
    he study investigated traditional pottery practices in the Ankole region of Western Uganda, focusing on indigenous technological knowledge, socio-economic and environmental issues. The main objective was to investigate how the traditional pottery is produced, pottery use, and impact on the environment. Most of the field work component of the study involved interviews with potters, observation and documentation of pottery activities in the region. Findings indicate that traditional pottery is primarily in the hands of women, apart from the Batwa where pottery is done by both gender. Pottery is carried out during the dry season apart from the Batwa tribe who practice pottery throughout the year.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of pottery production in development: a case study of the Ankole region in Western Uganda.
    (Net Journals, 2016-11) Kayamba, William K.; Kwesiga, Philip
    The study investigated pottery production activities in the Ankole region, Western Uganda, focusing on technical and socio-economic issues. The main objective was to investigate how pottery industry plays a role in cubing unemployment and mitigating poverty as well as its impact on the environment. The fieldwork component of the study involved qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Firstly, questionnaires were administered to 148 respondents from a wide cross-section of Ankole region. Secondly, 40 potters were interviewed and 7 focus group discussions were conducted with potters from this region in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the experiences and opinions of both traditional and contemporary potters something a questionnaire alone could not yield. The findings indicate that traditional pottery is primarily in the hands (role) of women, while men are engaged mainly in innovations and commercial pottery production. Undeniably, brick and tile making have become a lucrative business, especially for the male youths because of the high demand of the products by both the rural and urban communities. However, pottery activities have had a devastating effect on the environment. In some places, these activities have created pools of stagnant water which have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread malaria in many parts of the region.