Social Sciences

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Capital Inflows and Macroeconomic Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Palgrave Macmillan, 1999) Kasekende, Louis; Kitabire, Damoni; Martin, Matthew
During the last three years, there has been an expanding literature on private capital inflows to developing countries. In 1992 and 1993, attention focused on the rise in such inflows, their causes and nature. Gradually, it moved to their potential macroeconomic impact and the policy implications. In 1994 and 1995, following events in Mexico, it has concentrated on the sustainability of the inflows, and the policy implications of potential reversal. Virtually all of the studies have focused on Latin America, though some authors have also examined East Asian experiences. Analysis of Eastern Europe is extremely rare (Calvo, Sahay and Vegh, 1995; Griffith-Jones, 1995), and that of Mrica is virtually non-existent (with the notable exception of the excellent study by Asea and Reinhart, 1995). Even the most comprehensive recent analysis and survey of the literature (Fernandez-Arias and Montiel, 1995) has concluded that there is only impressionistic evidence of private capital inflows to sub-Saharan Mrica, where 'capital inflows have not materialized'. Mrica has continued to be analysed from the point of view that most of its capital inflows causing 'Dutch Disease' effects are aid inflows (see, for example, Younger, 1992). The key areas examined in the literature have been the scale and composition of private capital inflows, their causes and sustainability, their effects on macroeconomic stability, and their responsiveness to policy measures.
Utilizing evidence to drive program implementation: How Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) surveys help districts to target underserved areas in Uganda
(USAID, 2006) Kironde, Samson; Mabirizi, Joseph; Businge, Denis; Ssimbwa, Stephen; Orobaton, Nosa
For e ective implementation of decentralized health systems at the local level, districts need to have accurate, up-to-date and representative information to guide decisions about where to focus resources in order to achieve maximum impact with the often limited resources at their disposal. However, many local government entities in Uganda have limited capacity and resources to measure outputs and outcomes in order to e ectively tailor interventions. Use of regular low cost Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) surveys can help achieve this.
The East Africa Conference on Intellectual Property Rights and Development
(ACODE, 2006) Tumushabe, Godber; Naluwairo, Ronald
This i s a synthesis report of the proceedings of the E ast Africa Conference on Intellectual Property Ri ghts and Development which took place i n Jinja-Uganda from the 28th -29th June 2006. The Conference brought together senior level officials from the national IPR offices, research and academic i nstitutions, national planning and i nvestment authorities and practicing IPR lawyers. T heoverarchingobjective of the Conference was to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage i n a mutual dialogue on the role of i ntellectual property rights i n stimulating science and technology i nnovation, technology development and technology transfer within the E ast African Community (EAC). T he Conference also provided a rare opportunity for IPR practitioners from the three E AC States to engage i n a dialogue on practical steps necessary for operationalizing the relevant provisions of the T reaty Establishing the EAC.
Global Imbalances and the Implications for Africa
(The Hague, 2007) Kasekende, Louis
indicated by D’Arista and Griffith-Jones (2006), the United States has for most of the past twenty five years carried current account deficits. In large part, the deficit has been sustained by a gradual depreciation of the US dollar vis-à-vis other major currencies, high growth rates in other parts of the world, and a willingness of non- US residents to increase their holdings of US dollars. The phenomenon of large and growing current account deficits of the United States (amounting to $869.1 billion in 2006, or 6.5 percent of GDP) and the associated large positions that foreigners (especially emerging economies) are amassing in US securities have become a central feature of the global economy, particularly in recent years. It has predictably garnered much attention from the financial press, policymakers, practitioners and, of course, academics. The three chapters by Barry Eichengreen and Yung Chul Park (2006), Jane D’Arista and Stephany Griffith-Jones (2006) and Fan Gang (2006) in the previous volume1 present an excellent discussion of many of the key issues and the way forward. My comments highlight some key issues to stimulate further discussion and then dwell briefly on the neglected region in the discourse – Africa.
Measuring Professionalism Variables And Their Implication To Procurement Outcomes In Uganda
(The 3rd International Public Procurement Conference Proceedings, 2008) Basheka, Benon C.; Mugabira, Michael .I.
In recent years, public sector performance and its capacity to delivery services has received a renewed focus given the declining morals and increasing levels of corruption. There is hardly any country in the world that has escaped the incidence of corruption in Public procurement (Arrowsmith, Linarelli & Wallace (2000); a reality that generated a wave of reforms driven by the imperative to improve the performance and cost effectiveness of the public sector (Self, 1993). Public procurement plays a central role in governance and anti-corruption efforts because of its sheer impact on society considering that, public procurement officials around the globe control spending that is equivalent to 10-30% percent of GNP in any given year (Callender and Mathews, 2000). Wittig, (1999) observed that public procurement remained a big part of the economy of developing countries, accounting for an estimated 9-13% of their gross domestic product. Nevertheless, it is an area in need of attention since resources are not being properly managed in many countries’. This calls for a high degree of professionalism in the conduct of this important function of public significance.This paper presents a descriptive analysis of the implications of professionalism on procurement outcomes in Uganda.
Social Capital and Innovative Performance in Developing Countries The Case of Ugandan Entrepreneurs
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009) Rooks, Gerrit; Szirmai, Adam; Sserwanga, Arthur
This paper examines the relationships between the characteristics of networks of small scale entrepreneurs and their innovative performance in a developing country context. It is based on a survey of entrepreneurs held in Uganda in May 2008. Networks represent social capital that can contribute to economic success and innovative performance. But sometimes networks can also act as obstacles to innovation. In the literature there are two opposing strands. The line of research initiated by Coleman points to the advantages of being embedded in tightly knit networks, which provide trust, support and access to innovation. Burt emphasizes the disadvantages and constraints of closed and dense networks, where many relationships are redundant and actors are isolated from the outside world. This paper applies these theories in a developing country setting, where they have so far not been studied. It provides an empirical synthesis between the Burt and the Coleman perspective. The relationship between network constraints and innovative performance is found to be curvilinear. Increasing density and constraint initially has positive effects on innovative performance, but beyond an optimum negative effects start to prevail. Network size and human capital have positive effects on innovative performance.
Politics of Patronage and Religion in Uganda
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
"The 9th State of the Nation Platform meeting held on June 4, 2010 debated the “ Role of Religious Leaders in Promoting and Sustaining Democracy and Good Governance in Uganda: Towards the 2011 Elections and Beyond.” Bishop Zac Niringiye, the assistant Bishop of the Church of Uganda’s Diocese of Kampala and the chairman of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism was the main speaker. The meeting was well attended by religious leaders from other denominations and officials from Inter-religious Council of Uganda. There was near unanimity at the end of the debate that things are not going well in Uganda. A new beginning with a new cadre of leaders with vision, conviction, and courage in Uganda needs to kick the country to a higher level, not new laws and institutions because country has Bishop Zac Niringiye framed his submission in terms of the politics of patronage. “Our governance challenge is political,” he said. “We have a long history of the entrenched politics of patronage.” It is no longer God and Country first, the bishop said in reference to Uganda’s national motto: For God and My Country. The motto that works, he said, is: For Me and My Group First. Whether it is creation of districts or behaviour of churches. “We seem not to have leaders who are capable of going beyond this mindset,” the bishop said."
Transforming Uganda’s Public Policy, Economy, and Politics; What we must do to make Uganda better
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
"Who should improve things? That is a question posed at the 7th meeting of the State of the Nation Platform, most of whose members fall in the dissatisfied age group. Appropriately, the discussion was led by a panel drawn from amongst the STON members to compel self-reflection. After all, those who are younger and economically active largely drive transformation of society. What is the vision, mission and objective of our generation? Why are we living at this time? What do we want to change? What future do we need? What means are we going to use to achieve that future? Who is going to lead us? Are we just making comments and leaving it at that? What are our own value systems as a generation, as Ugandans? Are we not making an assumption that we are talking about a homogenous generation? The questions did not have to be answered fully and immediately but, if anything, they sparked off some good amount of serious thinking about the state of affairs in Uganda."
Using OERs to improve teacher quality: emerging findings from TESSA
(Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, 2010) Wolfenden, Freda; Umar, Abdurrahman; Aguti, Jessica; Abdel Gafar, Amani
The last decade has seen tremendous progress in primary pupil enrolment across much of sub-Saharan Africa but unfortunately in many areas this has not been accompanied by an improvement in pupil achievement. Attention and priorities are now expanding to embrace close scrutiny of the processes of classroom teaching and learning. Governments and donor agencies across the region are engaged in promoting a pedagogical paradigm shift to improve pupil attainment; a learner-centred classroom approach with pupil-teacher construction of knowledge through active inquiry. But to date systematic adoption and embedding of these progressive teaching methods has been limited and pupil learning achievements continue to be low. Much recent research on African classrooms shows that the dominant mode of teaching remains a teacher-led transmission style in which pupil talk is restricted to short, often chorus, answers to closed questions. ( Pontefract and Hardiman, 2005; Akyeampong et al, 2006; Altinyelken,2010; Henevald et al, 2006; Mtika & Gates, 2009) Recent UNESCO EFA reports draw attention to the importance of teacher quality for improving pupil achievement in schools and the key role of teacher education in shifting modes of interaction in African schools to those which more fully support pupils’ cognitive and linguistic learning (UNESCO, 2010). Teachers are potentially key agents of change. However such a focus on teachers is not unproblematic.
A Reflection on Uganda’s Foreign Policy and Role at the UN Security Council
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
"Uganda is a landlocked country that depends on foreign imports for most of its consumer goods and energy requirements. Thus, even before independence, maintaining an open trade route to the Indian Ocean was a primary foreign policy objective. Indeed, in the first decade of independence, policymakers emphasised co-operation with Uganda’s neighbours. At continental level, it assumed a pan-Africanist stance, being a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) and a strong supporter of liberation movements especially in Southern Africa. On the global stage, the country maintained a posture of non-alignment although it sometimes sided more with the communist/socialist bloc led by the then-Soviet Union and China. When the NRM came to power in 1986, the new government enthusiastically supported international and especially African co-operation but conditioned it on an ideological evaluation of whether other regimes were racist, dictatorial, corrupt, or violators of human rights. In a new assertiveness, Uganda actively supported the overthrow of governments in Rwanda and D.R. Congo (then Zaire) because they were dictatorial, corrupt, and abused human rights."
Reviving Makerere University to a Leading Institution for Academic Excellence in Africa
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
Established in 1922 as a technical school, Makerere University is now one of the largest universities in eastern and central Africa with 20 faculties/institutes/schools offering not only day but also evening and external study programmes to a student body of more than 30,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates. It is also a centre of research.
Decentralisation: A Good Thing Being Abused?
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
"Various official documents enjoin local government units to help enhance effective and transparent governance in Uganda. Decentralisation is the policy under which local governments operate. Local governments here refer to district councils, city council, municipalities, city and division councils, town councils, and sub-county councils. Decentralisation aims to involve the people in their governance – in decision-making, in identifying their own problems, in setting priorities and planning their implementation and monitoring, in ensuring better use of resources, and in ensuring value for money. The decentralisation policy is designed to achieve a number of objectives. a) Transfer real power(devolution) to local governments, thus reducing the workload on central government officials. b) Establish decentralisation as the guiding principle applied to all levels of government to ensure citizens’ participation and democratic control in decision-making. c) Achieve good governance, which is a prerequisite for better performance of public servants. d) Bring political and administrative control over services to the point where they are actually delivered, thereby improving accountability and effectiveness, and promoting people’s feeling of ownership of programmes and projects executed in their areas. e) Free local managers from central constraints and, as a long-term goal, allow them to develop organisational structures tailored to local circumstances. f) Improve capacities of councils to plan, finance and manage the delivery of services to their constituents."
The preparedness of the Uganda Police to ensure a free, fair and violent-free Elections in 2011
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
"In recent years, Uganda has experienced violent riots and tensions surrounding elections. With violence reported in the most recent by-elections, the 2011 general elections have the unfortunate potential of erupting into serious violence, particularly in the urban areas. Uganda is struggling to cope with the shift from two decades of a “no party” to a pluralistic political dispensation. The forthcoming elections will be the third in 30 years to be held under the new pluralist, or multiparty, system. The first, held in 1980, were heavily disputed leading to the launch of a five-year guerrilla war that ushered in the present government in 1986. The 2006 elections were marred by violence, charges of rape and treason against the leading presidential challenger, allegations of vote rigging, intimidation of voters, and reported incompetence by the Electoral Commission. They were also affected by a lack of understanding of the system by most voters given that not only were these the first multiparty elections in a long time but also it was the first time that presidential, parliamentary, and (higher) local council elections were being held on the same day. Memories of past insecurity, particularly among the older generation and those in rural areas, mean that for many, stability and peace are more important than development and prosperity. Younger urban voters, on the other hand, are pushing for new opportunities and the hope of a better future."
Synthesis Report of the Proceedings of the 10th Session of the State of the Nation Platform
(ACODE, 2010) Tabaire, Bernard; Okao, Jackie
A national budget is as good a place to start as any when one sets out to examine a country’s development priorities. That is what happened at the 10th State of the Nation Platform debate. The day’s topic was “Uganda’s National Budget 2010/2011: How Strategic are the Strategic Priorities?” Three panellists led off the discussion. They included Minister of State for Finance Hon. Fred Jachan Omach, Shadow Finance Minister Hon. Oduman Okello, and Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Officer Morrison Rwakakamba. Hon. Omach represented Hon. Syda Bbumba, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Hon. Fred Omach (with microphone), the Minister for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Oduman Okello, Shadow Mnisiter for Finance and Morrison Rwakakamba, UNCCI chief during the 10th session of the State of the Nation Platform held at Protea Hotel on July 2, 2010speech before Parliament. The theme of the budget was “Strategic Priorities to Accelerate Growth, Employment and Socio-Economic Transformation for Prosperity”. Now, long gone are the days when reading the budget in Uganda was a highly anticipated public event. Because the country has had a long period of macroeconomic stability with single digit inflation rates and a free foreign exchange regime, the presentation of the budget is just yet another state ritual. Virtually no new taxes are introduced these days. So it was surprising that a budget-related subject yielded an unusually lively debate. The discussion revolved around: • The necessity of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax • Getting value for money • The place of agriculture in the national economy • Politics as a constraint to efficient planning The backdrop of the animated debate was the coming general election. Uganda will hold only its third general election under a multiparty dispensation in 30 years on February 2011. The debate therefore proceeded with participants looking into the budget to see whether it was aimed at making the wananchi happy so they will return the ruling NRM party to power. In short, was the 2010/2011 budget an election-year budget? It depends, of course, on how you read it. And how you read it depends in turn on where you sit, stand, lean, or squat politically. Whatever the case, this was one of the more substantive State of the Nation Platform debates todate.
Effective Strategies for Simulating One-of-a-Kind Construction Projects
(IEEE., 2012) Ekyalimpa, Ronald; Farrar, Jack
Most construction projects are unique with respect to product features and their delivery process. Consequently, customized techniques for analyzing and designing these projects become inevitable. The authors propose use of Special Purpose Simulation (SPS) modeling techniques for such problems and discuss Simphony.Net, a discrete event simulation environment, utilities that support such developments. Past studies successfully implemented using SPS modeling are also discussed. Although SPS modeling approaches can be developed faster and are easier for practitioners to use, they are limited to the domain they model. General Purpose Simulation (GPS) is proposed as one way to overcome this limitation. This paper discusses the systematic steps to developing Simphony SPS tools, followed by a demonstration of GPS use in validation of such templates. A case study of a road construction project modeled using Surface Works Road Construction SPS is presented and validated using a Simphony GPS template, as proof of concept.
Posttraumatic Cognitions, Avoidance Coping, Suicide, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Adolescent Refugees
(Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2013) Ssenyonga, Joseph; Owens, Vicki; Kani Olema, David
This cross-sectional survey examined posttraumatic cognitions, avoidance coping, suicide and trauma-related disorders of Congolese adolescent refugees in Nakivale refugee settlement. We interviewed 89 adolescents (aged 18-24 years; 62.9% females) using the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory, Coping Response Inventory, MINI suicidality scale and Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostics Survey. Forty-four (49.4%) adolescent satisfied the PTSD diagnostic criteria. Twenty-six adolescents (29.2%) had moderate to high current suicide risk. Significant predictors including negative cognitions about self, emotional discharge, and acceptance or resignation explained 33.6 percent of the variance in PTSD symptom severity. About 50.8 percent of the variance in PTSD was explained by risk factors including age, trauma load, and negative cognitions about self. The findings suggest that for the adolescent refugees, negative appraisal and avoidance coping strategies used subsequent to trauma exposure have implication for current psychological wellbeing. Therefore there is need to provide psychological intervention to address these maladaptive posttraumatic problems.
Posttraumatic Growth, Resilience, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Among Refugees
(Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2013) Ssenyonga, Joseph; Owens, Vicki; Kani Olema, David
The study examined posttraumatic growth, resilience and PTSD among a random sample of 426 (mean age: 35 years; 51.6% females) Congolese refugees resident at Nakivale camp, using a cross-sectional survey. Interviews were conducted using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Survey. Prevalence of PTSD was 61.7%, with 58.6% female reporting PTSD. Female gender, low education level, and trauma load were significant predictors of PTSD. The regression model accounted for 12.2 percent of the variance in PTSD. Resilience, posttraumatic growth, number of displacements and trauma load were significant predictors accounting for 6.1 percent of the variance in PTSD symptom severity. There were no significant differences in the resilience and posttraumatic growth of refugees with and without PTSD. The high prevalence of PTSD is partly explained by risk factors including trauma load. Our findings also point to the protective role of resilience and posttraumatic growth among refugees.
Why Social Protection programmes have attracted domestic political support in Uganda: Evidence from Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) Pilot programme
(ResearchGate, 2014) Mubiru, John Bosco
This paper examines why Social Protection interventions such as the current Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) pilot programme in 14 districts of Uganda has attracted more domestic political support in the recent years than before 2006. The paper further highlights the political factors that were previously an obstacle to the implementation of social protection programmes including the predominant political (and socio-economic) paradigm factors, negative elite attitudes, politics within institutions and lack of genuine knowledge among stakeholders about social protection. The paper also examines factors that have contributed to the increased domestic political support for the SAGE pilot programme in Uganda. The factors discussed include Civil Society pressure, donor support and policy influence, the current political environment and institutional capacity building through trainings as well as study trips. The paper demonstrates that over the past few years, there has been an effort to increase knowledge and discussions on the need for social protection and its affordability in Uganda which has attracted the attention of politicians. The paper indicates that “political buy-in” is necessary to ensure that social protection is given a high priority and is sustained. The paper concludes by arguing that politics in Uganda remains a central aspect in social protection advocacy in Uganda. As such, it is vital that domestic political support is won if social protection interventions such as SAGE are to be recognized as a priority policy and budget issue for Uganda.
Factors Affecting Performance of Commercial Banks in Uganda A Case for Domestic Commercial Banks
(International Business Research Conference, 2014) Nsambu Kijjambu, Frederick
The study seeks to establish the underlying factors responsible for performance of domestic commercial banks in Uganda. The factors are analyzed in the light of structure–conduct performance (SCP) and Efficiency hypothesizes (ES). This is supplemented by Global advantage theory together with Home field theory. The study analyses performance of all licensed domestic and foreign commercial banks independently on average basis. Using Linear multiple regression analysis over the period 2000-2011, the study found that, management efficiency; asset quality; interest income; capital adequacy and inflation are factors affecting the performance of domestic commercial banks in Uganda over the period 2000-2011. Policy implications emerged for commercial banks’ management includes; efficient management; credit risk management; capital adequacy levels; diversification and commercial bank investment. In addition, monetary policy regulations and instruments should not enforce high liquidity and capital adequacy levels. Regulations on non-interest income activities should be put in place to harmonize the impact of diversification on all commercial banks’ performance and to avoid exploitation of bank customers.
The Role of Local Government in Social Protection Programmes: A Case of Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (Sage) in Uganda.
(ResearchGate, 2015) Mubiru, John Bosco
Social protection has been recognized as a critical element of national development strategies in both developed and developing countries. Uganda have embraced social protection interventions in the recent years as key to achieving inclusive, pro-poor, and equitable development which is evident in its commitments to declarations at regional and international levels. The government has further established and implemented social protection interventions (both contributory and non-contributory schemes). The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development through the Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme with financial support from DFID, Irish Aid and UNICEF is piloting two schemes – Senior Citizen Grants (SCG) and Vulnerable Family Grants (VFG) under the SAGE programme. The local governments have been among the key stakeholders in the implementation of the SAGE programme in the 15 pilot districts. They have participated in range of activities including identification, targeting and selection of beneficiaries; sensitization, awareness raising and community mobilizations; managing grievances; coordination; monitoring and reporting as well as providing office space. The participation of the local governments in SAGE has been attributed to some enabling factors that include the trainings; monthly allowances; logistical support; political capital of the programme and the clear mandate on the roles of local governments. However, local governments’ participation in the SAGE programme have encountered a number of challenges such as staffing gaps; reporting challenges; inadequate financial resources and role conflicts. Despite the challenges, SAGE has also impacted on the performance and service delivery of the local governments in the pilot districts In order to strengthen the effectiveness of the local government’s participation and the objectives of the SAGE programme, there is need to create linkages between beneficiaries and other social services; mainstream SAGE in the local government plans and budgets; strengthen the coordination and information sharing and promoting social accountability.

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