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
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- Items in this community present a concise summary of information that can help readers understand, and likely make decisions about, government policies.
Recent Submissions
Contextualizing AI Ethics in Uganda Through Adaptive Sensitive Reweighting (ASR) for Equitable Microcredit
(Oxford Academic, 2025-10-15) Emmanuel Isabirye; Daphne Nyachaki Bitalo
This research tackles the pressing ethical concerns of using AI in Uganda’s microcredit sector, namely to develop an adaptive sensitive reweighting (ASR) model to mitigate algorithmic bias and promote equitable access to credit. Traditional credit scoring models— and fairness-aware machine learning algorithms trained on Western-biased data—discriminate against marginalized groups because they are based on formal financial records, reinforcing structural disadvantages. By iterative engagement with Ugandan policymakers, lenders, borrowers, and AI experts, the most significant ethical concerns and context-specific fairness metrics were identified. The ASR approach adaptively adjusts weights for sensitive features such as collateral values and transaction history during model training to enhance fairness. Experimental outcomes on a typical credit scoring dataset demonstrate ASR’s success: the inclusion rate of disadvantaged borrowers is enhanced by 15% with predictive accuracy maintained and key fairness metrics significantly improved. The research provides actionable policy recommendations on implementing ASR-based AI systems in Uganda’s microfinance sector to drive financial inclusion and sustainable development. This study contributes to emerging Majority World scholarship on AI ethics by demonstrating the necessity of situating ethical frameworks and valuing stakeholder perspectives to develop equitable, inclusive AI systems. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, microfinance institutions, and AI practitioners who aim to implement responsible AI in developing economies.
Family Welfare Services and Control of Child Abuse in Mbarara District
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-10-23) Kevina Tumuhairwe
Essay discusses the connection of Family Welfare Services and Control of Child Abuse in Mbarara District. In recent publication by the Daily Monitor Wednesday January 11th
2021, It was reported that parents are exposing their children to abuse because of they are unable to meet the basic needs of the children like school fees, food among others,
which is why they have resorted to sending them to the streets. Therefore, the study of this research is to give understanding on the Family Welfare Service and Control of Child Abuse, the study will be guided by the following objectives; The objectives of the study were: to evaluate the effectiveness of family welfare services in controlling child abuse, to investigate the basic reasons of child abuse, to assess the challenges that kids have to face, and lastly to come up with and carry out measures to manage child abuse and its consequences on kids. The research was grounded in the Human Ecology Theory/family systems model pioneered by Broderick (1993). A cross-sectional research design was utilized for data collection and analysis. The study population consisted of parents/community members, probation officers, and police in charge. The main methods of data collection were questionnaire survey and interviewing. Data analysis involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research outcomes revealed that Family Welfare Services Play an Important Role in the Control of Child Abuse because the African charter on the right and welfare of the child proclaims that “member states shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that a child subjected to school or parental discipline shall be treated with humanity and respect and with respect for the inherent dignity of the child.”. Therefore, the majority
of respondents 65% asserted that children receive psychosocial support, i.e., 65.6% abused children receive legal support; 66.3% cases of child abuse are always reported
xiii to probation officer. The study findings investigated causes of child abuse in Mbarara District; these included; 50.0% of respondents indicated that death of parents because
a child remains uncared and end up being cared for by other relatives / parents' friends, 80% polygamous, 75% drug abuse among parents' / care givers contributes to child
abuse. However, it was indicated that study revealed that (48.3%) of respondents indicated that it is lack of enough basic needs; 57.9% of respondents indicated it is lack
of recreational facilities. This therefore concludes that there is a positive correlation between Family Welfare Services and Control of Child Abuse. Therefore, this study
concludes that there is high child abuse in Mbarara district and most children don't access family welfare services. This also means that it is essential for such stakeholders
such as police, LCs, Parents as well as other concerned citizens to effectively enforce such laws protecting rights of such children in these communities despite challenges
that make it impossible to attain complete success to end such vice.
Marketing Strategies and Sales Performance of Private Firms in Uganda: A Case Study of Tororo Cement Limited
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-11-11) Dan Waki
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Marketing Strategies on and sales performance a case of Tororo Cement Company limited. The objectives of the study, included Production strategy, pricing strategy, promotion strategy and place strategy and how they affect sales performance. A total of 70 respondents filled fully and returned questionnaires and 05 respondents were interviewed .The research design adopted was descriptive design. Simple Random, sampling techniques were used to select respondents. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data and findings presented in tables and figures. The findings revealed there was a strong positive relationship between marketing strategy and sales performance. On individual variables, product development strategy had a negative but significant relationship with sales performance and was the least contributor to sales performance .Price strategy had a positive and significant relationship with sales performance and was the largest contributor to sales performance .Place had a positive and significant relationship with sales performance and the second largest contributor to sales performance while promotion strategy had also a positive and significant relationship with sales performance and was the third largest contributor to sales performance .The study recommends that the management of Tororo cement company to put more emphasis on high quality product strategy, enhance physical product research, and improve on branding to improve on customer . However the firm may maintain its packaging and perceived quality to enhance product use and brand image.. The use of pricing strategy increased sales volume, use of penetration pricing influences customer purchase and value-based pricing has a positive impact on profitability. The management of Tororo to put more efforts in low pricing penetration pricing and product based value pricing to attract more buyers. Findings further that revealed place influenced sales performance. the study recommends that the management may have to put more emphasis on geographical locations, counter the competitors do selective distribution channels and improve on warehousing indifferent locations with the use of attractive stimuli such as music have a positive effect on consumer purchase and sales volume. Finally the study revealed that promotion strategy influences sales performance .the study recommends that the company may maintain its price discount and coupons strategy but put more emphasis on regular promotions, direct marketing, personal selling and public relations to ensure customers are informed, reminded and enticed to buy and also ensure constant contact with customers .
Breastfeeding Practices and Experiences Among Working Mothers: A Case Study of Teachers and Nurses in Uganda
(Chritian Journal for Global Health, 2025-11) Emmanuel Otieno; Stella Asayo; Teopista Agutu; Josephine Namyalo
Background: Uganda’s exclusive breastfeeding rate remains high at 94%, despite significant malnutrition rates with nearly 1 in 4 children under 5 suffering from stunting. Breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition for infant growth and development. This study aimed to investigate breastfeeding practices and experiences of primary school teachers and nurses in Uganda.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a case study design to collect data from 50 respondents — primary school teachers and nurses working in Mukono Municipality between October 2023 and February 2024. All breastfeeding mothers with infants aged 0-6 months were included. In-depth and key informant interviews were done to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data.
Results: Breast feeding primary school teachers and nurses indicated experiencing heavy workloads, tight work schedules, and minimal institutional support towards practicing breastfeeding. As such, most breastfeeding mothers did not successfully achieve the goal of breastfeeding their infants exclusively.
Conclusion: In order to improve infant health outcomes in Uganda, it is essential to address the barriers that hinder exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. This can be achieved through policy occupational health interventions that protect breastfeeding and promote inclusivity and work life balance for mothers.
Evaluation of Agricultural Waste-Based Briquettes as an Alternative Biomass Fuel for Cooking in Uganda
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025-11-13) Omino Joseph Oteu; Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe; Junior Senyonga Kasima; Maxmillan Mpewo; Miria Frances Agunyo
Wood fuel has been adopted as a feasible alternative to cooking energy sources in efforts to replace fossil fuels. However, the exorbitant use of wood fuel has raised concern as it is the major cause of forest cover loss in Uganda. Briquettes have recommended as as sources of cooking energy potential to to substitute wood fuel. Unfortunately, sawdust, a product of deforestation, is the primary material used in making briquettes in Uganda. This instead augments the problem of fuel-induced deforestation. Agricultural wastes could potentially be converted into briquetting materials for generation of cooking energy, although these are studied in in Uganda. Thus, this study study established potential of agricultural wastes as alternative briquetting materials for use in cooking. Four fuel types: charcoal from Mangifera indica, firewood of Eucalyptus grandis, carbonized and non-carbonized briquettes from agricultural wastes, all from within Mukono District were used for the study. Laboratory based experiments were used to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of the fuels. Data were analysed using R software, Ver. 4.2.3. Carbonised briquettes’ mean performance measures were higher than conventional fuels (p≤0.05) and non-carbonised briquettes. The amount of energy required to attain experimental boiling point of water was higher (p≤0.05) in conventional fuels and non-carbonised briquettes than in carbonised briquettes. Duration to boil 5 litres of water was least with the conventional fuel sources. All the fuel sources’ emissions exceeded the maximum range recommended for indoor carbon monoxide levels. However, the particulate matter emission was lower in carbonised briquettes and charcoal than the other fuel sources. Agricultural waste-based carbonised briquettes could effectively be used as an alternative cooking energy source in Uganda. The study recommends conducting cost-benefit analyses on the use of agricultural waste-based briquettes as cooking energy sources.