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More Makerere PhD students graduate

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 Graduands at Makerere University's 75th graduation ceremony at the institution's premises in Kampala on January 13, 2024. PHOTO/DAVID LUBOWA 

WILFRED ENEKU
He investigated the role of rickettsioses in acute febrile illnesses in Uganda and characterized the causative agents in ticks and fleas in selected districts. Rickettsioses manifest with fever and are difficult to diagnose. The study highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of rickettsia as a potential cause of acute febrile illnesses.

HARRIET NABIRYE MULOKI
She investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and socio-economic effects of human and bovine brucellosis in post-conflict northern Uganda. The overall objective of this work was to establish the state of occurrence and the social-economic dynamics of brucellosis in post-conflict northern Uganda. The study determined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community, medical, and veterinary workers regarding brucellosis.

JAMES BUGEZA
He investigated the seroprevalence of anti-brucella antibodies and the causative strains of brucellosis in livestock and slaughterhouse workers in Uganda. Brucellosis is a food-borne and occupational disease and is a public health priority in Uganda. The findings are useful in formulating interventions that promote consumer and occupational safety.

PROSSY NAMUWULYA
She sought to understand why measles outbreaks persist in Uganda despite the availability of free nationwide vaccination. The study found that the B3 strain is endemic in Uganda, with minimal genomic variation and no evidence of vaccine escape. Vaccination remains highly effective.

LEONARD OMADANGI
He investigated the epidemiology and economic impact of cystic echinococcosis in livestock among the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda. The study findings are useful for solving problems associated with high economic losses, appreciating, and understanding transmission dynamics, and the scale of CE infection in livestock.

BENJAMIN KASIISI AHIMBISIBWE
His study developed a framework for the institutionalization of information security management practices in public organizations. Findings indicated three key security practices: information security governance, physical security and technical measures, and personnel security practices. These findings contribute significantly to academic discourse on information security within developing countries.

CHRISTINE AKELLO KALUMERA
She examined the challenge of limited user involvement in requirements elicitation and analysis within User-Centred Design (UCD), particularly in developing electronic Health Information Systems (eHIS). Her integrated approach highlighted improvements in task efficiency, creativity, and ease of use.

GEOFREY KAPALAGA
He sought to improve machine learning-based predictive performance for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks, a serious challenge in Uganda’s livestock industry. The study developed novel approaches to enhance disease prediction under varying environmental conditions, including variations in rainfall and temperature, which influence disease patterns. The study findings provide critical insights for early detection and targeted resource allocation, transitioning the country’s FMD management strategy from reactive measures to proactive, data-driven interventions.

ALICE GITTA KUTYAMUKAMA
She examined antenatal mental health information provision in Uganda. Using a case study design, this study explored antenatal mental health information (AMHI) needs for pregnant women. These include stress management, emotional changes, symptom management, myths, and cultural beliefs. China Uganda friendship hospital Naguru (CUFHN) provided services, including counselling, mental health support, educational talks. Information was disseminated via television screens, posters, notice boards, brochures, and peer-to-peer information sharing. This study recommends adoption of a proposed model for effective AMHI provision.

JOB MATOVU
He examined the problems associated with mobile money payment systems particularly the Mobile Money withdraw transaction and the different methods of verifying a mobile money withdrawer. The study looked at data from different money withdraw systems around the world and compared it with data in Uganda with the objective of improving the Mobile Money withdraw transaction verification process. The study found that stronger verification protects the customer, the agent, organisations, and businesses.

NICHOLAS ISAAC MUKWANA
He investigated English Language Teacher Trainers’ strategies for developing Interpersonal Communication Skills (ICS) in pre-service English language teachers at a selected university in Uganda. Findings revealed that English Language teachers employed modelling, counselling, and mentorship to nurture ICS. The study recommends a focus on integrating ICS into English Language teaching curriculum, revising assessment strategies, improving lecturer-student ratios, and adopting reciprocal-centric pedagogies.

MOSES BATIIBWE SSERWADDA
He examined the perceptions of teachers about the implementation of Islamic Religious Education Competence curriculum in secondary schools in Wakiso District. This study examines the transition from a traditional content-based curriculum to a competence-based framework, highlighting the importance of teacher training, resource allocation, and curriculum alignment to achieve meaningful learning outcomes.

FLORENCE DEBORU
She examined the institutional mechanisms for enhancing the uptake and use of doctoral research outputs at Makerere University in regard to the climate for research use, research production, linking research to action, and research evaluation. The findings revealed that Makerere University aspires to enhance and promote the uptake and use of research outputs and innovations generated by staff and students as one of the key drivers of becoming a research-led university.

JOYCE NAMULONDO
She investigated the differential gene expression in school-age children aged 10-15 years with schistosomiasis (bilharzia) caused by schistosoma mansoni as well as those coinfected with P. falciparum which causes malaria and S. mansoni living along Lake Albert in Uganda. Her research highlighted a high prevalence of S. mansoni among school-age children.

WALIYA GWOKYALYA
She investigated why income tax compliance among small businesses in Uganda remains low despite the various policy and legislative measures. She recommends reforming tax laws to provide clear guidelines for computing gross turnover, defining acceptable business records, imposing penalties for non-compliant licensing and stamp duty registration officers, and requiring tax clearance certificates before renewing trading licences.

AKANYA
He investigated the performance of Earliest Deadline First (EDF), Low Latency Queueing (LLQ), and Weighted Round Robin (WRR) scheduling algorithms in MANETs. Delay is a major Quality of Service metric in mission-critical applications. Some applications run on Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) set ups which come with transmission challenges arising from the size of traffic packets and environmental conditions.

DAVID MUSIIMAAMI
He investigated the information-seeking behaviour of Art and Design students in diploma-awarding institutions in Uganda. The study found that the information needs of Art and Design students were principally related to creation of artworks, Art and Design students used varied sources of information, with the visual resources being predominant, the students mainly used information-seeking strategies that enabled them to locate and access visual information resources.

MARTIN MUYINGO
He examined the emotional intelligence competences of secondary school head teachers that were transferred on the basis of promotion, overstay, requested, and forced transfers. The results revealed that out of the four head teachers transferred, three were perceived to have higher levels of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management leadership competencies; while one of them, whose transfer was requested, was perceived to have limited self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management leadership competencies. The study recommended that head teachers should endeavour to develop their emotional intelligence competencies; the education ministry should introduce emotional intelligence training to teacher trainees, induct head teachers who are due to be transferred.

AGNES NAMAGANDA
She conducted a study to explore librarians’ views and experiences of continuing professional development (CPD). Findings revealed that CPD was viewed as essential for maintaining professional competencies and personal growth. The study identified contextual factors affecting participation and recommended increasing awareness about CPD, fostering personal commitment, implementing mandatory CPD, and establishing adequate regulatory frameworks.

LYDIA NAMUGERA
She conducted a mixed methods study to enhance the provision of Virtual Library and Information Services (VLIS) in Makerere University and Uganda Christian University libraries. Data collected from librarians and library users revealed inadequate VLIS environment due to constraints relating to policy framework, funding, staffing, ICT infrastructure, and digital literacy skills. The study recommends incorporation of information literacy.

BETTY NAMAALWA
She investigated stakeholders’ perceptions on the implementation of Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) in selected secondary schools in Rubaga Division, Kampala City. The findings revealed limited clarity of the CBC learner-centred pedagogies. Stakeholders had mixed attitudes towards use of instructional materials and the CBC assessment modes were suitable although most of the teachers did not know how to apply them.

EVA K NAMPIIMA
She investigated the integration of blended learning to address challenges in nursing education, such as limited hands-on practice, overcrowded labs, and insufficient skill mastery. The findings revealed that blended learning improved educator competencies and student learning. The study developed a practical framework for blended learning in resource-constrained settings, emphasising flexibility, interactivity, and accessibility.

JACKLINE SSANYU
She investigated the challenges of integrating formal grammars and grammar-aware tools, such as scanners and parsers, into the development of grammar-aware software. The research identified a lack of clear integration methods, often leading developers to rely on ad-hoc approaches. By applying component-based software development principles, the study developed PAMOJA, a software component framework that integrates seamlessly into environments like NetBeans and Eclipse. PAMOJA provides a coherent set of grammar-aware front-end components for tasks such as scanning, parsing, tree building, and formatting, which improve grammar-aware software development workflows.

PATRICK WAISWA
He investigated the effectiveness of Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE). The study found an average overall mean of effectiveness of MUELE for each of its six constructs and all the hypotheses were supported. The contribution of this study was in operationalising the dimensions of effectiveness of MUELE hence, developing a tool for its measurement and providing a basis for developing/reviewing policy documents on the effectiveness of ICT in the teaching and learning at national and institutional levels. The study recommends that for effectiveness of MUELE, its six dimensions should receive adequate attention.

AGNES NAKIMULI
She explored how staff deliver and make sense of the delivery of non-academic student support services at Kyambogo University. Due to increasing student numbers that are not proportionate to funding and staffing, the delivery of the services is becoming more complex. Kyambogo University should initiate the process of formulating policies, guidelines and actualise the implementation of existing policies, strengthen training initiatives through multi-stakeholder involvement to sustainably deliver the services.

ALOYSIUS SSEKIMPI
He explored factors influencing music students’ subject selection at A-Level in Ugandan secondary schools. The study identified parental influence as the most significant deterrent, followed by career development, secondary school science education policy, peer group influence, non-music subject teacher influence, and inadequate music instructional resources. Personal interest, music academic performance ability, and gender were not significant predictors. The study recommends involving parents in career guidance and revising policies that favour science subjects to support music education.

YASIN HAROUN
He investigated the gaps in the traditional methods of teaching in the English language, and the need to equip English language teachers with innovative instruction strategies to enhance students’ language outcomes and relevance in this digital era. The study identified gaps in the traditional teaching methods, making them increasingly inadequate, failing to engage and empower learners with the essential English language skills required for success in the 21st century.

MARY NALUMANSI
She examined the contribution of community libraries to the development of a reading culture among children in Uganda, specifically at Nambi Sseppuuya Community Resource Centre. The study revealed that the children’s reading needs and habits included access to books and reading materials in their mother tongues. The children’s reading activities included read-aloud opportunities and educational games.

HILDA MPIRIRWE
She examined authentication techniques used during e-assessment. The study developed an e-assessment Multifactor authentication framework to enhance the integrity of e-assessments and strengthen the security of e-assessment systems. The findings of the study revealed that learners were frequently authenticated using usernames and passwords during e-assessment. However, this authentication method was weak, easily stolen, and could not confirm the user’s genuine identity.

EDWARD KANSIIME
He investigated the relationship between project-based learning (PBL) and learners’ nutrition knowledge. The study adapted a PBL Works project-based learning model in the context of nutrition education in secondary schools in Uganda. The study found that to increase nutrition knowledge significantly, learners need to design and plan projects, build a culture of managing projects, and get scaffolded through the project.

WINFRED NAMUWONGE
She sought to understand the experiences of international graduate students regarding the support services they receive at Makerere University. The findings highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the academic and non-academic support services. On the positive side, students reported increased confidence, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, networking, access to academic resources, cultural exchange, and avenues for personal and professional growth.