Volume 12 Number 1 May 2017
http://umispace.umi.ac.ug:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12305/317
2024-03-28T10:41:59ZConstraints in using mobile money services in Uganda
http://umispace.umi.ac.ug:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12305/350
Constraints in using mobile money services in Uganda
Obicci, Peter Adoko
The purpose of this study is to examine constraints hindering the successful use of mobile money (MM) services in Uganda from the perspectives of the users and agents. The researcher used a cross sectional study design and emphasis was put on quantitative research approach. In the same vein, a questionnaire survey was administered to 98 respondents whose perceptions were analyzed using descriptive statistics especially the mean score and mean ranking together with independent t-test. Findings indicated that ‘poor network connectivity’, ‘lack of electronic cash float, ‘not owning a mobile phone, ‘low electricity coverage for users’, and risk or fraud in MM transfer’, are the top five constraints in using MM services in Uganda. The study recommends that MM service providers need to critically look into these constraints as they expand and grow their businesses. More so, the study provides evidence concerning the difference in the opinions of two key players (i.e., the users and the agents) which can be used by policy makers to improve MM services in the country.
2017-05-01T00:00:00ZTeacher professional development and quality of pedagogical practices in public secondary schools in Uganda
http://umispace.umi.ac.ug:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12305/349
Teacher professional development and quality of pedagogical practices in public secondary schools in Uganda
Malunda, Paul Netalisile
This article provides an analysis of the influence of teacher professional development on the quality of pedagogical practices in public secondary schools in Uganda. The study specifically examined the extent to which induction, coaching and training workshops explain variations in the quality of pedagogical practices. The study was prompted by the persistent criticisms about the deteriorating quality of pedagogical practices in public secondary schools in the country. The study employed a descriptive cross sectional survey design. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to select 95 public secondary schools from the four regions of Uganda. Data were collected from 76 head teachers, 934 teachers and six officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) using survey, interview, observation and document analysis methods. Data collected from teachers was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and ordered logistic regression; while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data collected from lesson observation, document analysis, head teachers and MoES officials. The findings suggest that teacher professional development positively impacts on the quality of teacher preparation, teaching methods and assessment of learners; and yet systematic induction and mentoring programmes for beginning teachers and institutionalized continuous professional development systems for serving teachers are lacking in most public secondary schools. The researcher thus concluded that teachers’ pedagogical practices are dependent on the manner in which they professionally developed, other factors notwithstanding. Therefore, the study recommends that in order to enhance the quality of pedagogical practices, the Ministry of Education and Sports should expedite the implementation of the secondary teacher development management systems (STDMS) programme in order to ensure continuous professional development of teachers.
2017-05-01T00:00:00ZCauses and cost of traffic jams in Kampala
http://umispace.umi.ac.ug:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12305/348
Causes and cost of traffic jams in Kampala
Mwanje Mambule, Dan
This article investigates the causes and cost of traffic jam in Kampala, through a survey of 291 road users. Narrow roads, indisciplined drivers, poor urban planning, limited car parking and concentration of most economic and social activities in the city were found to be some of the major causes of traffic jams. Travellers lose between 8 and 23 hours every month in traffic jams, with car travel speeds falling from an average of 28 km/h when there is no jam, to between 8 and 14km/h because of traffic jams. Traffic jams could also be lowering the country’s GDP to the tune of UGX 55-163 billion per year due to lost productive time while stuck in traffic jams. To alleviate traffic jams, the article recommends a variety of mitigation strategies from building flyovers and improving the quality of alternative routes, to improving traffic management operations, with congestion pricing believed to likely have the most dramatic effect on traffic congestion. The article further recommends objective involvement of all key stakeholders in the process of determining mitigation policy options, team-working and coordination amongst the agencies responsible for traffic control in the city, and conducting economic analysis for all policy options and prioritizing based on their return on investment and contribution to productivity.
2017-05-01T00:00:00ZUganda’s efforts towards industrialization: Catalyzing production, productivity and investment in local industries
http://umispace.umi.ac.ug:80/xmlui/handle/20.500.12305/347
Uganda’s efforts towards industrialization: Catalyzing production, productivity and investment in local industries
Ndlovu, Lindani B.
The Ugandan economy’s trade balance has been in deficit for a number of years. Imports have been growing faster than exports, leading to trade deficits. Uganda has a vision for transformational development of the economy with a role for industrial development. The national plans and Industrial Policy outline how to achieve the desired state of industry. This article focuses on how manufacturing development, with specific attention to catalyzing investment, production and productivity in local industries can be used to address Uganda’s trade balance. Manufacturing contributes employment opportunities, improved balance of payments position, greater efficiency driven by technological innovation, the development of managerial and entrepreneurial capabilities and improvement in technical skills. Uganda government has committed to transfer value-adding technologies and to empower women with agri-business skills to step up the growth of industry. In order to propose a perspective on approaches to catalyze investment, production and productivity, it is essential to analyze Uganda’s current manufacturing performance to inform interventions to stimulate industrialization. The findings reveal that the manufacturing sector needs stimulation to increase growth. Government should stimulate investment by building productive capacity in selected sub-sectors of manufacturing. Investment should be accompanied by development of requisite skills demanded by manufacturing development. A possible approach should be targeting industries that have strong linkages and generate spill-over effects engaging in production that touches on a number of sectors of the economy.
2017-05-01T00:00:00Z