Research Articles (SPGRS)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12280/354

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Followership in sub-Saharan Africa’s Development: Reconstructing the Appendage Game
(Brill, 2020-12-18) Nakabo, S. Robinah
To address the many challenges of development faced in sub-Saharan Africa, the concentration of attention upon defects of African governments in power continues to be a main focus, as failed leadership is regarded as the primary problem responsible for underdevelopment throughout the continent. Refocusing attention upon followership instead of leadership might provide a remedial alternative. Using critical reflexivity, the role that followership plays in development should be scrutinized just as leadership has been scrupulously evaluated; and if faults be found, let measures be designed, implemented, and assessed using development parameters of choice. ‘Followership’ in this essay depicts the capacity and power with which every individual is endowed; the proposal here is that by exercising that ability to impact their representatives in elected office, citizens can keep their leadership in check through a dialectical, reiterative protocol of initiative and response between leadership and followership. Inspired by Rousseau, the ideal of ‘liberated followership’ implies responsible individuals employing their civic freedoms to develop effective leadership, with the potential of ultimately realizing the socio-economic development that Africans so much desire.
Closing the HIV and AIDS “Information Gap” Between Children and Parents: An Exploration of Makerspaces in a Ugandan Primary School
(MDPI, 2020-07-23) Kendrick, Maureen; Namazzi, Elizabeth; Becker-Zayas, Ava; Tibwamulala, Nancy Esther
In this study, we address the research question: “How might child-created billboards about HIV and AIDS help facilitate more open discussions between parents and children?” The premise of our study is that there may be considerable potential for using multimodal forms of representation in makerspaces with young children to create more open dialogue with parents about culturally sensitive information. Drawing on multimodal literacies and visual methodologies, we designed a makerspace in a grade 5 classroom (with students aged 9–10) in a Ugandan residential primary school. Our makerspace included soliciting students’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS as part of a class discussion focused on billboards in the local community and providing art materials for students to explore their understandings of HIV and AIDS through the creation of billboards as public service announcements. Parents were engaged in the work as audience members during a public exhibition at the school. Data sources include the billboards as artifacts, observations within the makerspace, and interviews with parents and children following the public exhibition. The findings show that, for parents and children, the billboards enhanced communication; new understandings about HIV and AIDS were gained; and real-life concerns about HIV and AIDS were made more visible. Although these more open conversations may depend to some degree on family relationships more broadly, we see great potential for makerspaces to serve as a starting point for closing the HIV and AIDS information gap between children and parents.
Rethinking Anti-Corruption Strategies in Uganda: An Ethical Reflection
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2020-07-01) Okok, Samuel; Ssentongo, Jimmy Spire
Corruption continues to be one of the key challenges to the governance and development of many African countries. In Uganda, despite the existence of various anti-corruption strategies, several scandals can be cited in recent times involving the loss of colossal sums of money in embezzlement, bribery, influence peddling and other underhand manoeuvres. Several explanations for its persistence have been propounded in existing literature, helping us to understand the multifaceted phenomenon at various levels. However, many still fail to get to the core – especially due to largely focusing on secondary factors without delving into analysis of the dynamics of moral development that inform the shaping of human character and that, therefore, should be the focus of anti-corruption strategies. The above observations raise questions such as: What do the rampant corruption scandals reflect about the wider value systems and moral set-up in Ugandan society? Are State institutions mandated to fight corruption founded on appropriate theoretical perspectives and principles to guide their operations? In answering these questions, the main purpose of this paper is to present an ethical critique of the anti-corruption strategies used in Uganda and to suggest an alternative approach mainly grounded on a virtue-ethics-theoretical stance.
Followership in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Development: Reconstructing the Appendage Game
(Brill, 2020-12-18) Nakabo, Robinah S.
To address the many challenges of development faced in sub-Saharan Africa, the concentration of attention upon defects of African governments in power continues to be a main focus, as failed leadership is regarded as the primary problem responsible for underdevelopment throughout the continent. Refocusing attention upon followership instead of leadership might provide a remedial alternative. Using critical reflexivity, the role that followership plays in development should be scrutinized just as leadership has been scrupulously evaluated; and if faults be found, let measures be designed, implemented, and assessed using development parameters of choice. ‘Followership’ in this essay depicts the capacity and power with which every individual is endowed; the proposal here is that by exercising that ability to impact their representatives in elected office, citizens can keep their leadership in check through a dialectical, reiterative protocol of initiative and response between leadership and followership. Inspired by Rousseau, the ideal of ‘liberated followership’ implies responsible individuals employing their civic freedoms to develop effective leadership, with the potential of ultimately realizing the socio-economic development that Africans so much desire.
Society against state or state against society? the unfolding of violence in contemporary Uganda's Rwenzori region
(School of Law, Makerere University, 2020-06) Tshimba, David Ngendo
Addressing violence has remained a salient challenge worldwide. Yet, what is even more challenging has been the possibility of gaining a fuller understanding of how violence, especially when on a large scale, unfolds in specific places as well as the ways in which its aftermath (re)shapes state society relations. This article takes the case of the mass violence of 05 July 2014 in Uganda’s Rwenzori as an entry point for a critical-historical engagement with the state’s organising power of society in the Rwenzori region under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) rule. The main argument of this article, informed by an ancillary ethnographic fieldwork carried out between July and September 2017, runs counter to the narrative of vulnerability and marginality of Rwenzori borderlanders—a narrative much vaunted in most of contemporary Africanist scholarship on the region. In its final analysis, the article maintains that the anti-state character manifested in the unfolding of the July 2014 attacks can best be understood as an ongoing querying, on the part of society, of the state’s organising power. Evidently, this querying reached a cataclysmal level when the state under the NRM rule moved to refashion differently society in the Rwenzori region following the official recognition of the cultural institution of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu.
Sustainable Development for Uganda: A Switch to Followership Model
(The Pennsylvania State University, 2020) Nakabo, Robinah Seruga; https://doi.org/10.5325/philafri.19.2.0138
Leadership, as a habit of thinking, assumes the alpha and omega position for pursuance of sustainable development in Uganda. However, what if we considered followership first? Using literature review, a conceptual framework, and critical reflexivity as data source and analysis, this paper provides a new approach to understand challenges in Uganda. The argument is to transcend leadership models and switch to followership model for possibilities of achieving especially sustainable development. This will not only strengthen democratic practices, but also offers more efficient and effective leadership methods. Followership remains the critical yet silent element that has caused the shift in focus from traits, behavior, and lastly, contingent leadership theories. It is why some leadership theorists are considering feminine styles as more effective because they are prejudiced as natural followers. I suggest possibilities of exploring a followership model where followership is the main factor upon which Empowerment for Sustainable Development (ESD) directly depends.
‘Which journal is that?’ Politics of academic promotion in Uganda and the predicament of African publication outlets
(Routledge Taylor and Francis, 2020-09) Ssentongo, Jimmy Spire
Research and publication are some of the practices that define university work and therefore are part and parcel of the key considerations for promoting university-based academics. Whereas this promotion standard is widely appreciated in view of the importance of knowledge production, it raises several questions about the subtexts of its practice and their implications for publication in Africa. Through an empirical qualitative study of two Ugandan universities, this paper examines how promotion policies shape publication outlet choices and Africa-based publication initiatives. I show that promotion processes in Ugandan universities are driven by complex quality checks that are sometimes characterized by rationalized malice against individual academics in settling personal scores and biases against publications from African outlets. With the partial aid of theories of (post)coloniality and Southern theory, I explain the root of Afro-pessimistic biases in promotion criteria and argue that both the genuine quality checks and other neo-colonial biases incentivise publishing in the West and lead scholars to avoid African options. This exacerbates the already challenging circumstances of African publishers, limits local access to marketplaces of knowledge, and shrinks space for epistemic pluralism
Local Language a Medium of Instruction: Challenges and Way Forward
(2018) Akello, Lucy Dora; Timmerman, Greetje M. C.
The paper reports on a participatory action research study conducted in six rural primary schools in Uganda in 2013 to establish why children taught in the local language had difficulties in reading and writing. Findings through interviews, focus group discussions, reviews of exercise books and lesson observations indicated that though it was easier for pupils to learn the concepts in the local language; challenges ranging from poor translation, inadequate teachers’ language proficiency, lack of instructional materials, high pupils’ enrolment, lack of administrative support and teachercentred approach of teaching, affected pupils’ learning to read and write. Participants recommended adopting the child-centred pedagogy, incorporating instructional materials, conducting continuous assessment and recording pupils’ competencies attained in reading and writing. Teachers need to engage more in Participatory action research in order to reflect on their practices and pupils’ learning, and collaboratively decide what works best and what needs improvement in their classrooms.
Sustainable Energy Transitions in Sub-Saharan African Cities: The Role of Local Government
(Elsiever, 2018) Bawakyillenuo;, Simon; Olweny, Mark R. O.; Anderson, Megan; Borchers, Mark
Sub-Saharan Africa is urbanizing fast, and by 2040 the population of the subcontinent is expected to be predominantly urban, placing a vastly increased burden on urban governance. Energy futures modeling indicates that 75% of energy demand will be urban by 2040. By implication, energy transitions will be increasingly linked to urban governance in the future. Without substantial support, governance capacity is unlikely to be able to rise to emerging energy challenges, which could erode the welfare of citizens as well as the achievement of global and national ambitions around sustainable energy as espoused by Sustainable Development Goal 7, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, and access to modern energy. This paper provides an overview of selected energy research cases in urban Sub-Saharan Africa, including the results of energy futures modeling, to help highlight the emerging urban sustainable energy challenges. It further explores the energy-related mandates of local vis-a-vis national governments, looks at areas where urban renewable energy can be promoted, and discusses important elements to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy, in particular the capacity support requirements.
Speech at the 7th UMU Annual Research conference held on 27 January 2016
(Uganda Martyrs University, 2017) Byanyima, Winnie
Nutritional Recovery Outcome among Moderately Malnourished Under-five Children in Communities Implementing Positive Deviance - Hearth or Community Health Workers’ Nutrition Promotion Approaches in Karusi and Kirundo Provinces, Burundi
(African Journals Online, 2017) Inamahoro, Chantal; Kiguli, Juliet; Makumbi, Fredrick Edward; Wamuyu-Maina, Gakenia; Wamani, Henry
The Positive Deviance - Hearth (PD-H) approach is important in controlling malnutrition; however, there is limited data on its effect in improving nutrition status. Objective: To assess the effect of PD-H and community health worker nutrition promotion (CHWNP) in improving nutrition status and recovery among the moderately malnourished under-five (MMU5) children in Burundi. Methodology: PD-H and CHWNP approaches were used in Karusi and Kirundo provinces, respectively. MMU5 children were enrolled at baseline for the intervention (PD-H, (358) and usual care (CHWNP, (310). Haemoglobin level and anthropometric indicators (MUAC, wasting, underweight and stunting) were taken at baseline for 12, 60 and 120 days. Changes in nutritional recovery were compared within groups exposed to each approach using ANOVA for continuous outcomes and chi-square for categorical outcomes. Further analysis compared changes between the two groups exposed to the two approaches using random effects logistic models for binary outcomes and mixed effect models for continuous outcomes. Results: The MMU5 children discharged cured after 60 days and at 120 days follow-up. When compared with the baseline, this was statistically significant in both CHWNP and PDH groups on anthropometric indicators (wasting, underweight, stunting, MUAC and weight) but not anaemia. After controlling for socio-demographic factors, MMU5 enrolled in CHWNP were more likely to be discharged cured than those in PD-H with respect to moderate wasting (AOR=2.74, 95% CI= 1.19-6.29), underweight (AOR=1.56, 95% CI= 1.01-2.43) as well as MUAC (AOR=1.21, 95% CI= 0.49-3.00). Conclusion: Both CHWNP and PD-H significantly improved nutrition status and recovery. However, the proportion of those who recovered was significantly larger in CHWNP compared to PD-H.
Removal of Public Officers from Office: Law and Justice in a Flux
(African Journals Online, 2012) Fayokun, Kayode O.
This paper examined the state of the law on removal of public officers from office. It observed that there are competing interests of labour and industry to be served by the rules on disengagement from public office. Workers need security of employment while industries need discipline and efficiency to survive. The courts have striven with changing trends in ensuring balance and justice for both the workers and the industries. The author’s appraisal of case law puts in view the state of both substantive and procedural law on the discipline of public officers as expounded by judges in the exercise of their power of judicial review. On the one hand is the attempt to maintain freedom of contract, which assumes the equal bargaining power of the parties. On the other hand is the need to give effect to statutory provisions which secure the tenure of public officers above that of the ordinary employee through legislation. The paper concluded that the divergent interests are not necessarily in conflict; they can be reconciled and adjusted to be mutually complementary.
Potential Contribution of Tamale International Airport to the Development of Northern Ghana
(African Journals Online, 2012) Moomen, Abdul-Wadood
Empirical analysis of the socio-economic benefits and challenges of air transport in Ghana has not received much attention. This is in spite of the fact that policy makers and aviation operators need such analysis to implement regional development initiatives. The general objective of this study, therefore, is to examine the economic effects and challenges of air transport in Ghana, with the feasibility of the proposed development of the Tamale Airport to International status as the prime focus. Information is derived from the literature, work place counts and resource persons. A major finding of the study is that air transport contributes immensely to economic growth and poverty alleviation--through direct and indirect employment and through tax revenue generation (from its catalytic impact on other industries like tourism). It is argued that developing Tamale Airport must be considered as a complete business environment and a leading West African main Airport, by virtue of its strategic location. This is crucial to the growth prospects of the three regions of Northern Ghana expressed in the establishment of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
Microbiological Safety of Ready-to-eat Foods Sold in Primary Schools in Abeokuta, South-West Nigeria
(African Journals Online, 2012) Afolabi, O. R.; Oloyede, A. R.; Obuotor, T. M.; Adegoke, L. M.; Adeleke, A. O.; Komonibo, T. O.
A study was conducted to assess the microbial safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods sold in private and public primary schools in Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria. One hundred and sixty RTE food samples were collected from forty food vendors in thirty primary schools and analysed microbiologically. Socio-economic status and their knowledge of food safety were assessed using the structured questionnaires. Total bacterial counts, total coliform counts and total fungal counts of RTE foods in public primary schools ranged from 6.27 log10cfu/g to 6.47 log10cfu/g, 6.00 log10cfu/g to 6.28 log10cfu/g and 5.85 log10cfu/g to 6.16 log10cfu/g respectively while those of private primary schools ranged from 6.30 log10cfu/g to 7.47 log10cfu/g, 6.15 log10cfu/g to 6.54 log10cfu/g and 5.60 log10cfu/g to 6.70 log10cfu/g respectively. Bacteria isolated from these samples were Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus spp, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella dysenteriae and Escherichia coli while the fungal isolates include Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus spp, Penicillium viridicatum, Mucor spp and Fusarium spp. RTE foods sold in both private and public primary schools were found to be highly contaminated. Inappropriate storage conditions, inadequate knowledge of food safety, attitudes and practices of the food vendors are the factors that may allow the food contamination. These findings demonstrate that ready-to-eat foods vended in public and private primary schools in Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria constitute an hazard to the pupils’ health. Provision of health education to the vendors and enforcing implementation of appropriate hygienic practices would improve food quality.
Challenges and Counselling Needs of Sickle Cell Patients Attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
(African Journals Online, 2012) Yahaya, L. A.; Durosaro, A.; Nuhu, M. A.
This study investigated the challenges and counselling needs of sickle cell patients attending the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Kwara State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling was used to select 120 literate regular and non-regular patients of the hospital. A researcher developed instrument titled “Challenges and Counselling Needs of Sickle Cell Patients Questionnaire” (CCNSPQ) was used to elicit information from these participants. Five research questions raised in the study were answered using frequency counts, means and ranking and Analysis of Variance was used to test the hypotheses formulated at the .05 level of confidence. The findings showed that excessive bone, abdominal and chest pains are the major challenges confronting the respondents while occasional embarrassment due to unexpected sickness accompanying sickle cell disorder and stigma are the most serious counselling needs. There was no significant difference in the challenges of sickle cell patients based on age but the respondents had significantly different counselling needs. Therefore, it is recommended that guidance and public health education be put in place to reduce the stigmatisation of sickle cell patients. In addition, wellequipped clinics should be provided to facilitate early treatment. Genetic Counselling should also be provided both in the school and the community to prevent future occurrence of sickle cell disorder.
Proposing an Indigenous Nigerian Folktale Therapy as a Counselling Model for Character Training and Behaviour Change among School Children
(African Journals Online, 2012) Adeoye, Emmanuel A.; Olayinka Okeowo, Adegoke; Adeoti, Florence Yusuf; Rotimi, Ogidan J.
Using the Yoruba race of Nigeria as fulcrum for the study, this paper examines the universality and didactic significance of archetypes in African folklore. The authors contend that Africa folklore, by virtue of its highly moralizing and didactic elements made possible by an embedded commonality of instructive archetypes, offers a lifeline that counsellors and psychologists can use in combating the moral decay in the Nigerian society. Based on this premise the paper goes on to present a counselling model for character training and behaviour change through the use of an indigenous Nigerian Folktale Therapy (I.N.F.T). The model is a response to the needed paradigm shift in the counterproductive traditional punitive method of combating undesirable behaviours that seem to have become rampant currently in Nigerian society. This model could indeed serve as springboard for adaptation in other African settings which are very rich in folklores.
Suboptimal Utilisation of Resources in Sub-Saharan African Higher Education Institutions: the Case of Teaching Space at Makerere University
(African Journals Online, 2012) Ssempebwa, Jude; Owolabi, S. O.; Bakkabulindi, F. E. K.
Many higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa are underfunded. Consequently, they are operating with encumbering resources constraints that threaten quality assurance. Accordingly, they are working to expand the availability of these resources. Notwithstanding, it is taken for granted that once available, these resources are optimally utilized and that, in instances expanding their availability is not possible, compromising on some elements of the quality of higher education is inevitable. The problem is that this presumption could disguise inadequacies in the utilization of the resources, with the consequence that the institutions’ need for the resources is exaggerated. Preoccupation with expanding the availability of resources could also stifle the innovation of creative ways of making the best use of the resources available. This means that the institutions need to evaluate their utilization of these resources—to pinpoint their need for the resources and potential for quality assurance. This paper reports the findings of a study that responded to this need, taking the case of teaching space at Makerere University. The objective of the study was to verify the hypothesis that the University is teaching space constrained. The findings were that the resource is overly underutilized albeit this was disguised by occasional overutilization of the same space, a concomitance that only multidimensional evaluation could unearth. Accordingly, the study gives credence to the hypothesis that shortages of resources at the University, and similar institutions, are ostensible. Therefore, it is recommended that these institutions subject their utilization of resources to rigorous evaluation.
Evaluation of the Blended Learning approach to Teaching Software Engineering
(African Journals Online, 2012) Bada, Joseph Kizito
This research presents experimentation of MOODLE course management system for teaching software engineering and process modelling to master’s degree students. The students used MOOLE for online discussions, assignments and for downloading lecture notes for a duration of four months. Thereafter, they evaluated the learning environment with questionnaires. The results indicate that MOODLE is a highly accepted learning management system for teaching and learning in a resource limited country. However, for a learning management system like MOODLE to be effectively implemented in a University setting, it is important for the University management to invest in the initial computer hardware equipment and Internet connectivity infrastructure to overcome technology barriers.
Novel Organic Fertilisers for Management of Root-Knot Disease of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]
(African Journals Online, 2011) Atungwu, Jonathan Jeremiah; Eremosele, Gold Jude; Ipoola Olabiyi, Timothy; Bukola Orisajo, Samuel
Organic farming is currently receiving great impetus in Africa due to its potentials to improve nutrition, income and livelihoods of resource-poor smallholder farmers. Sustainable management of root-knot nematodes in organically grown soybean remain a major challenge in Africa. Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of three novel organic fertilisers (sunshine, neem, and IAR & T fertilisers) as organic nematicides for control of Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) in a susceptible soybean variety. The organic fertilisers were applied two weeks before planting. All three organic fertilisers were significant (P < 0.05) in reducing (96 – 99 %) Mi nematode populations in soil leading to 86 – 100 % improvement in soybean grain yield. There were high and positive relationships between plant heights stem girth and yield components. Root gall development on test crop was negatively correlated with plant growth (r = - 0.47 to – 0.48) and yield (r = - 0.57 to – 0.59).
Evaluation of Pathogenic Bacteria Associated with Fresh Produce obtained from Selected Markets in Abeokuta
(African Journals Online, 2011) Afolabi, O. R.; Oloyede, A.R.1; Ibrahim, T. A
The bacterial quality of eight types of fresh produce obtained from selected markets in Abeokuta was determined. Two hundred forty (240) samples of fresh vegetables were examined for aerobic plate counts, coliform counts, and presence of Escherichia coli, toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp and Listeria spp. The aerobic plate counts ranged from 2.80 log10 cfu/g to 15.60 log10 cfu/g with the inner parts of cut- water melons having the highest value. Total coliform counts ranged from 0.0 to 11.80 log10 cfu/g. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Listeria spp, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp. These pathogens were mostly found at the outer leaves/ parts of the vegetables and render unsafe for human consumption. This study shows that the outer parts/ leaves of fresh produce are heavily contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and the fresh produce should be pre- treated thoroughly, so as to reduce the risk of food- borne outbreaks.

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