The National Research Repository of Uganda - NRU
Welcome to the National Research Repository of Uganda, abbreviated as "NRU". NRU was established in 2021. NRU is a collection of scholarly output by researchers from the UNCST Community, including scholarly articles and books, electronic theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, journals, technical reports and digitised library collections. It is the official Institutional Archive (IA) of UNCST.
Copyright Information:
For information about the publishers' copyright policy on archiving your articles online or in an institutional archive, visit the Sherpa Site at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo.php The site gives a summary of the permissions normally given as part of each publisher's copyright transfer agreement. If you wish to publish your research findings in the NRU, please contact NRU administrator at admin@uncst.go.ug for details. NRU operates both open access and closed access models. Access to fulltext has been restricted in adherence to the UNCST Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Copyrights policies.
Other Useful Resources:
Africa Portal is an online repository of open access library collection with over 3,000 books, journals, and digital documents on African policy issues. This is an initiative by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Makerere University (MAK), and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Please visit the Africa Portal at http://www.africaportal.org/library.
Communities in NRU
Select a community to browse its collections.
- This community contains Open Access Books and Book Abstracts
- This community contains Ugandan Conference proceedings
- This community contains consolidated Ugandan Institutional Annual Research Reports on a broad range of subjects
- This community contains approved and running institutional repository policies from different research institutions
- This community contains Open access peer reviewed publications about Uganda and from Ugandan Researchers. The community has been classified to thematic research sub communities of Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Medical and Health Sciences, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.
Recent Submissions
Component-based Development of Software Language Engineering Tools
(International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, 2011) Ssanyu, Jackline; Kees, Hemerick
In this paper we outline how Software Language Engineering (SLE) could benefit from Component-based Software Development (CBSD) techniques and present an architecture aimed at developing a coherent set of lightweight SLE components, fitting into a general-purpose component framework. In order to give an impression on our development style, in this paper we demonstrate how to compose a syntax highlighter from a set of available SLE components using the NetBeans environment. Developing SLE tools as lightweight components that fit into general-purpose frameworks has advantages over the usual trend in which SLE tool development is towards large special-purpose frameworks. It facilitates incorporation of language processing tasks into all kinds of applications and makes SLE techniques available to occasional or first-time users with little effort.
Library users’ attitudes towards Virtual Library and Information Services in Ugandan public and private universities
(Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 2023) Namugera, Lydia; Bukirwa, Joyce; Okello-Obura, Constant
Technological advancements, innovations, research, changing user needs, and online education have significantly affected traditional libraries. The 21st-century has engendered library users who seldom visit physical libraries but rely on alternative sources of information like Google from their convenient locations. This implies that for libraries to effectively adapt to the technologically driven academic landscape, adoption of Virtual Library and Information Services (VLIS) is the most feasible approach for them to fulfill their mandate of information provision. However, despite the numerous benefits VLIS offers, such as timely and convenient access to a wide range of current electronic resources, its adoption, implementation and consumption remains limited. This paper gives a report of a study that was conducted to determine the attitude of library users and faculty towards VLIS at Makerere and Uganda Christian University (UCU) libraries. A pragmatic research paradigm with mixed methods approach was adopted to collect data from 394 library users, using a questionnaire while interviews were conducted with 8 library staff. Data were analyzed using the SPSS. Study findings indicated that VLIS is perceived highly in terms of enhancing users’ studies and significance in the core universities tasks. Users’ also exhibited interest in acquiring more VLIS knowledge and demonstrated their appreciation of VLIS. Conversely, users’ in using VLIS was rated poor. Recommendations included modification of the Open Distance and E-learning policies, integration of active links of e-resources in students’ reading lists, a media monitoring room, zero rating on all library websites and incorporation of IL into the university curriculum.
Library Staff Perceptions of Virtual Library and Information Services at Makerere and Uganda Christian Universities, Uganda
(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2025) Namugera, Lydia; Bukirwa, Joyce; Okello-Obura, Constant
This study, which was underpinned by the ServQual model aims to determine the perceptions of library staff of Makerere and Uganda Christian Universities on the provision of virtual library and information services (VLIS), the challenges faced and strategies for the enhancement of VLIS provision. A qualitative design was used to collect data from eight library staff who were selected through purposive sampling until data reached saturation. The findings indicated that majority of librarians exhibit poor perceptions towards VLIS; as manifested in their reluctance to participate in VLIS provision, their conservatism, which impedes acceptance of new VLIS and their failure to apply knowledge and skills obtained during trainings. Several librarians perceive VLIS negatively, viewing VLIS activities as extra work and leaving it to only a few colleagues. In line with the tangibility element of the ServQual model which stipulates appropriate equipment resonates with adoption of new technologies, the study recommends that librarians fully accept, adapt, and provide VLIS in order to remain indispensable in today’s technologically savvy academic environment. Despite the glaring wake-up call for libraries to fully embrace VLIS, it remained limited and the status of its provision not clearly known. This study presents librarians’ perceptions towards VLIS for its enhanced provision. Although some studies exist in the area of virtual library resources, not many have thoroughly examined VLIS, their perceptions, provision and challenges in both public and private universities. This study hence adds to the existing body of literature on how VLIS can be enhanced, especially in developing countries.
Librarians’ contribution to social change through information provision: the experience of Makerere University Library
(IFLA Library, 2014) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Namugera, Lydia
Makerere University Library (Maklib) holdings include a rich collection of data and information resulting from its multiple roles, namely: serving as Uganda’s National Legal Deposit unit since 1958, the National Reference Library since 1972, as well as its primary role of serving Makerere University academic community and managing its Institutional Repository. The institutional repository consists of the legal deposit materials and Makerere University institutional documents One of Makerere University’s strategic priorities is community outreach. To support this priority, Maklib conducts various outreach activities which have contributed to social development, for example: Annual Library day outreach since 2009, which includes school support through re-organisation of libraries, training of library staff and donation of books; a periodic health information digest has been produced through repackaging of current literature on topical health issues and distributed to over one thousand-five hundred health units in Uganda since 1997; health information literacy training workshops to equip health workers with skills to utilise information resources and improve the quality of health care provision in Uganda. This paper will share the experience of conducting the above outreach activities and their evaluation, which demonstrate the role of librarians in responding to societal needs. Furthermore, a Library Gender Sentinel Site Committee (LGSSC) was set up in 2004 at Maklib to address gender issues. Among other things, the LGSSC holds a week-long celebration before every International Women’s day and distributes information on the day’s theme to library users. Since 2012, a Mother’s space, where expectant library users take a break, was set up in the new Main Library building extension to provide a conducive reading environment. Maklib proactively collects feedback from library users about its services. This paper also shares the feedback about Maklib services which, among other things, confirmed that ‘Change is a fact of life’ and information accessed and applied leads to societal development.
Patient characteristics and predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with tuberculosis: A six-year case series study in Uganda
(PLoS ONE, 2024) Amuge, Pauline Mary; Greta, Lassance Becker; Ssebunya, Rogers Nelson; Nalumansi, Esther; Adaku, Alex; Juma, Michael; Jay, Brooks Jackson; Kekitiinwa, Adeodata Rukyarekere; Elyanu, Peter James; Wobudeya, Eric; Robert, Blount
Background
The high case-fatality rates among children with tuberculosis (TB) are reportedly driven by in-hospital mortality and severe forms of TB. Therefore, there is need to better understand the predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with TB. We examined the patient clinical profiles, length of hospital stay from date of admission to date of final admission outcome, and predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with TB at two tertiary hospitals in Uganda.
Methods
We conducted a case-series study of children below 15 years of age hospitalised with TB, from January 1st, 2016, to December 31st, 2021. Convenience sampling was done to select TB cases from paper-based medical records at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) in urban Kampala, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH) in rural Fort Portal. We fitted linear and logistic regression models with length of stay and in-hospital mortality as key outcomes.
Results
Out of the 201 children hospitalised with TB, 50 were at FRRH, and 151 at MNRH. The male to female ratio was 1.5 with median age of 2.6 years (Interquartile range-IQR 1–6). There was a high prevalence of HIV (67/171, 39%), severe malnutrition reported as weight-for-age Z-score <-3SD (51/168, 30%). Among children with pulmonary TB who initiated anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) either during hospitalisation or within seven days prior to hospitalisation; cough (134/143, 94%), fever (111/143, 78%), and dyspnoea (78/143, 55%) were common symptoms. Children with TB meningitis commonly presented with fever (17/24, 71%), convulsions (14/24 58%), and cough (13/24, 54%). The median length of hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 5–15). Of the 199 children with known in-hospital outcomes, 34 (17.1%) died during hospitalisation. TB meningitis was associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.10–11.17, p = 0.035), while male sex was associated with reduced mortality (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.12–0.95, p = 0.035). Hospitalisation in the urban hospital predicted a 0.48-day increase in natural log-transformed length of hospital stay (ln-length of stay) (95% CI 0.15–0.82, p = 0.005), but not age, sex, HIV, malnutrition, or TB meningitis.
Conclusions
In-hospital mortality was high, and significantly driven almost four times higher by TB meningitis, with longer hospital stay among children in urban hospitals. The high in-hospital mortality and long hospital stay may be reduced by timely TB diagnosis and treatment initiation among children.