Browsing by Author "Mary Kagoire Ocheng"

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Experiences of Mid-Level Administrators in Ugandan Universities: A Study of Multiple Role Conflicts
(East African Nature and Science Organisation, 2025-06-20) Faith Mbabazi; Wilson Eduan; Mary Kagoire Ocheng; Stella Amero Eduan
This qualitative study explores the experiences of mid-level administrators in Ugandan public universities, focusing on role conflicts arising from their multiple responsibilities. Grounded in Role Conflict Theory, the research explores time-based, strain-based, and behaviour-based conflicts among 20 administrators at Makerere and Kyambogo Universities. The study was guided by the following research questions: What are the strain-based experiences of mid-level administrators regarding their workload? How do time-based constraints affect their workplace responsibilities? What behavioural challenges arise when executing multiple roles? This qualitative study adopted a constructivist approach, focusing on participants' lived experiences (Creswell, 2014). It targeted mid-level administrators (e.g., deans, bursars, heads of sections, etc.) due to their multifaceted roles. Twenty participants were purposively selected for their expertise. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, conducted face-to-face and online during the COVID-19 lockdown. Interviews were audio-recorded, with brief notes for follow-up. Pseudonyms ensured confidentiality. Thematic analysis categorized data into time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based themes, aligned with Role Conflict Theory. Findings reveal that extended work hours, heavy workloads, and challenges in switching roles lead to stress, burnout, and work-life imbalances. Gender, marital status, and age influence these experiences, with female and younger administrators reporting higher strain. The study recommends enhanced training and resource support to mitigate role conflicts. Implications for university administration and future research are discussed.
Head Teachers’ vision and influence on financial performance in Church of Uganda founded Secondary Schools
(International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Review, 2025-11-10) Jasper M. Tumuhimbise; Alfred Buluma; Charles Muweesi; Faith Mbabazi; Mary Kagoire Ocheng
Visionary leadership and financial performance of secondary schools are intertwined. Leaders with vision are increasingly recognized as a crucial in organizational success. This particularly is in Church of Uganda founded educational institutions in dioceses. This results in financial performance plays a pivotal role in sustainability and quality of education delivery. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. A total of 336 respondents were used to gather data. This had 311 quantitative respondents and 25 key informants. This was obtained from a sample eight of twenty-three secondary schools within the diocese. Key findings highlight that the vision is statistically significant. Quantitative analysis revealed that it has a coefficient correlation of 0.69 and a p value of 0.03 which indicates a strong correlation and statistically significant relationship between effective team leadership and financial health. The subsequent indicators such as budget management, resource allocation efficiency, and overall financial performance are essential and are dependent on vision. Visionary leaders are identified through their ability to articulate a compelling vision, inspire stakeholders, and strategically allocate resources to align with institutional goals. Recommendations include the need to foster professional development programs that enhance vision. Further, promotion of transparency in financial management practices, and a culture of innovation and strategic planning is essential.
Institutional Mediation and Teacher Engagement: A Contextual Model for ELearning Uptake in Uganda's Universal Secondary Education Schools
(East African Nature & Science Organisation, 2025-09-17) Nantagya Grace Ssebanakitta; Joel Yawe Masagazi; Mary Kagoire Ocheng; Kyakulumbye Stephen
This study, titled "Institutional Mediation and Teacher Engagement: A Contextual Model for E-Learning Uptake in Uganda's Universal Secondary Education Schools," investigates the strategies employed by teachers to overcome barriers to e-learning adoption within low-resource educational settings. Specifically, it explores how teachers in Kampala-based USE schools adapt to infrastructural, institutional, and pedagogical challenges, and proposes a contextual model to guide future integration efforts. Guided by the overarching objective to identify teacher-led strategies for navigating e-learning challenges, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, combining quantitative data from 393 teachers and qualitative insights from 10 headteachers across all USE schools in Kampala City. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, with rigorous procedures to ensure validity, trustworthiness, and triangulation. The findings reveal that teachers employed a combination of personal, peer-based, and institutionally facilitated strategies, including the use of personal devices, offline content sharing, peer mentorship, rotational scheduling, and community-supported ICT resource mobilization. Despite their creativity and adaptability, these coping mechanisms were often fragmented, inconsistent, and dependent on individual initiative rather than system-wide planning. Qualitative insights underscored the critical role of empathetic leadership, flexible budgeting, and informal CPD structures in supporting these grassroots innovations. Drawing on Constructivism, Connectivism, Technology-Mediated Learning Theory (TMLT), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study developed the Institutionally Mediated E-Learning Uptake Model (IMELUM). This model highlights the dynamic interplay between infrastructural readiness, leadership support, teacher competence, and institutional culture as key mediators of sustainable e-learning engagement. The study concludes that while teacher-led coping strategies are commendable, they are insufficient without systemic institutional support, strategic policy alignment, and sustained investment. It recommends formalizing grassroots innovations into national digital education frameworks, strengthening school-level professional development, and incentivizing collaborative partnerships. Suggested directions for further research include: evaluating the long-term impact of peer mentorship on e-learning competence, assessing the role of institutional leadership in sustaining digital transformation, and investigating scalable funding models for ICT integration in secondary schools.
Institutional Mediation and Teacher Engagement: A Contextual Model for ELearning Uptake in Uganda's Universal Secondary Education Schools
(East African Nature & Science Organisation, 2025-10-30) Nantagya Grace Ssebanakitta; Joel Yawe Masagazi; Mary Kagoire Ocheng; Kyakulumbye Stephen
This study, titled "Institutional Mediation and Teacher Engagement: A Contextual Model for E-Learning Uptake in Uganda's Universal Secondary Education Schools," investigates the strategies employed by teachers to overcome barriers to e-learning adoption within low-resource educational settings. Specifically, it explores how teachers in Kampala-based USE schools adapt to infrastructural, institutional, and pedagogical challenges, and proposes a contextual model to guide future integration efforts. Guided by the overarching objective to identify teacher-led strategies for navigating e-learning challenges, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, combining quantitative data from 393 teachers and qualitative insights from 10 headteachers across all USE schools in Kampala City. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, with rigorous procedures to ensure validity, trustworthiness, and triangulation. The findings reveal that teachers employed a combination of personal, peer-based, and institutionally facilitated strategies, including the use of personal devices, offline content sharing, peer mentorship, rotational scheduling, and community-supported ICT resource mobilisation. Despite their creativity and adaptability, these coping mechanisms were often fragmented, inconsistent, and dependent on individual initiative rather than system-wide planning. Qualitative insights underscored the critical role of empathetic leadership, flexible budgeting, and informal CPD structures in supporting these grassroots innovations. Drawing on Constructivism, Connectivism, Technology-Mediated Learning Theory (TMLT), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study developed the Institutionally Mediated E-Learning Uptake Model (IMELUM). This model highlights the dynamic interplay between infrastructural readiness, leadership support, teacher competence, and institutional culture as key mediators of sustainable e-learning engagement. The study concludes that while teacher-led coping strategies are commendable, they are insufficient without systemic institutional support, strategic policy alignment, and sustained investment. It recommends formalising grassroots innovations into national digital education frameworks, strengthening school-level professional development, and incentivising collaborative partnerships. Suggested directions for further research include: evaluating the long-term impact of peer mentorship on e-learning competence, assessing the role of institutional leadership in sustaining digital transformation, and investigating scalable funding models for ICT integration in secondary schools.
Lived Experiences of Domestic Violence and Coping Strategies Among Female Secondary School Teachers in Uganda
(Gitoya for Academic Research and Dissemination, 2024) Gladys Ayot Oyat; Wilson Eduan; Mary Kagoire Ocheng
This study investigated about lived experiences of domestic violence and coping strategies among female secondary school teachers in Uganda. The study employed qualitative approach within 23 secondary schools in Kitgum District. While through snowball sampling the study targeted all female teachers in these schools, who are victims of domestic violence, only 20 teachers who agreed to participate became the sample of the study. Furthermore, all the 23 head teachers of these schools participated in the study through purposive sampling. Data collection took place through in-depth interviews and data analysis took place through the thematic approach. While some of the domestic violence cases that took place include being beaten, tortured and injured, the victims used multiple ways to cope with the situations. The study recommends faith-based interventions as potential remedy for women who face domestic violence through deploying religious workers like school chaplains or other appropriate religious person to give support to such victims. The study further recommends supportive policy frameworks mainstreamed on tools for empowering female teachers and head teachers on support system for female teachers affected by domestic violence to allow them supportive work environment as well as provision of guidance and counselling experts in schools to provide similar services.
Role Conflict and Burnout among Administrators in Higher Institutions of Education in Uganda
(East African Nature and Science Organisation, 2023-10-16) Faith Mbabazi; Wilson Eduan; Mary Kagoire Ocheng
The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between role conflict and burnout among administrators in higher education institutions in Uganda. There have been a number of studies on academicians in universities, but not much research has been done on administrators, especially in Uganda. The respondents included midlevel administrators such as deans, directors, heads of department, heads of sections, academic registrars, librarians, directors of services and human resource officers. This was a survey research design carried out on administrators in universities. The questionnaire, which was a combination of role conflict questions and Maslach burnout inventory, was administered to the administrators who had been randomly selected from universities. The findings indicated that role conflict was not a predictor of burnout dimensions of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy; however, coupled with demographics, the results changed, and there was a positive significant relationship, especially with age on emotional exhaustion. It was recommended that university top administrators should be interested in the mental state of their staff because, as earlier noted, emotional exhaustion was the most significant burnout dimension predicted by role conflicts
Teachers’ Perceived Challenges and the Uptake of E-Learning in Kampala Capital City
(East African Journal of Education Studies, 2026) Grace Nantagya Ssebanakitta; Joel Yawe Masagazi; Mary Kagoire Ocheng; Stephen Kyakulumbye
This study investigated the challenges affecting teachers’ uptake of elearning instruction in government-aided Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools in Kampala Capital City, Uganda. The objective was to examine the infrastructural, institutional, and personal factors that hindered teachers’ effective engagement with e-learning platforms. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Technology-Mediated Learning (TML) frameworks, a convergent mixed methods design was employed. The study population comprised 393 teachers and 10 headteachers from ten USE schools, all selected through a universal sampling strategy to ensure representativeness. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations) and inferential tests (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, and multiple regression), while exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmed construct validity. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis, following systematic stages of familiarisation, coding, and theme refinement. The results revealed that teachers faced numerous challenges affecting elearning uptake. Quantitatively, unreliable electricity (M = 1.39, SD = 0.05), weak internet connectivity (M = 1.59, SD = 0.35), insufficient ICT equipment (M = 1.31, SD = 0.13), and limited technical support emerged as critical barriers. Regression analysis indicated that dependence on desktop-based teaching tools negatively influenced e-learning adoption (β = –0.134, p = 0.012), while lack of student access further constrained implementation (β = –0.119, p = 0.024). Qualitative findings reinforced these outcomes, highlighting funding inadequacies, irregular teacher training, inconsistent administrative support, and fragile maintenance systems as recurring obstacles. Headteachers also cited low motivation, absence of national e-learning policies, and erratic digital environments as institutional challenges. The study concluded that the barriers to e-learning uptake in USE schools are systemic, multifaceted, and structurally embedded within Uganda’s educational ecosystem. It recommends enhanced investment in digital infrastructure, sustainable funding frameworks, continuous professional development, and stronger administrative leadership to institutionalise e-learning practices. Empowering teacher collaboration networks and strengthening feedback systems were further advised to promote sustained technology-mediated instruction.
The ‘Self’ of Hearing-Impaired Learners and their Transition from Primary to Post-Primary Education in Uganda
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2024-08-12) Bonaventure Wasswa Ssebyanzi; Mary Kagoire Ocheng
In Uganda, post-primary education is one of the milestones in a child’s education. It is characterized by many challenges, particularly faced by learners with hearing impairments attempting to transition from primary to post-primary level. The transition has long been recognized as one of the most challenging issues for learners with hearing impairments, yet it has not been resolved by impeccable empirical scrutiny. This quagmire prompted the researcher to use a phenomenological investigation to explore the significant self-concepts affecting the learners’ transition from primary to post-primary studies. Interviews and group discussions with randomly selected learners who had joined and those who had failed to proceed to post-primary schools were involved. Also, corroborative views and opinions were obtained from preferred teachers and parents in interviews and discussions. It was discovered that the transition of learners with impaired hearing from primary to post-primary level was substantially influenced by family socioeconomic status, gender, age, health, and the learner’s cultural issues – validating the applicability of Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition to provide person-centered answers to transition deterrents, inhibiting the learners from joining and or staying in postprimary schools. It was recommended that self-advocacy training at the primary level be enhanced to help learners develop the skills they need for confidence growth in their abilities before, during and after the transition to post-primary educational institutions.