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Ethos of librarians in academic libraries in Uganda: a study of unethical practices
(University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, 2025-06-29) Nabbosa, Mary Gorreti; Kaddu, Sarah; Ssekitto, Francis
This paper analyses the ethical practices of Ugandan academic librarians by studying student service experiences at Kyambogo University (KyU) and Uganda Christian University (UCU). Through focus group discussions conducted with twenty-three (23) Library and Information Science (LIS) students (n=14 Kyambogo; n=9 UCU) who served as participants sampled by convenience and purposive strategies, the study analysed the multifaceted aspects related to ethical conduct. The research revealed that students’ perceived expectations of research assistance, ICT, and reference services differed substantially from actual practice. Current unethical conduct includes librarian absence and book restrictions, as well as resource misuse. This ethical deficit arises from three main factors: insufficient and enforceable ethical standards at the national level, inadequate professional oversight systems, and cultural norms within UCU, which exemplify faith-based higher education that sometimes conceals underlying ethical difficulties. This research develops an Ubuntu-based ethical system to supplement the IFLA Code of Ethics tailored to the Ugandan sociocultural setting. The study promotes LIS education that focuses on ethics, along with continuous professional development initiatives, and the development of a code of conduct between libraries and the delivery of psychosocial services to librarians. The study brings sophistication to African library ethics scholarship by supplying ethical recommendations tailored for academic institutions based upon empirical findings.
The status of occult HBV infection in a high endemic region : risk of community HBV transmission and reactivation
(BMC Research Notes, 2025-06-01) Kafeero, Hussein Mukasa; Ocama, Ponsiano; Ndagire, Dorothy; Walusansa, Abdul; Namusoke, Mariam; Kudamba, Ali; Muwanda, Fahad; Sendagire, Hakim
Objectives Occult hepatitis B virus (OBI) infection, characterized by the presence of HBV DNA in the absence of detectable HBsAg in the blood, is considered a potential hidden pathway for HBV transmission and reactivation, which can lead to liver cancer. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of OBI in a region of Uganda with high HBV endemicity, in order to help explain variations in HBV distribution within the country.
Results Among the 387 participants who tested negative for HBsAg, the majority were women (240 individuals, 62.0%), married (242 individuals, 62.5%), and aged 30 years or older (207 individuals, 53.5%). The OBI was detected in 21 participants (5.43%). Most of those with OBI were 30 years old or younger (13 individuals, 61.9%), male (12 individuals, 57.1%), had normal liver enzyme levels, and showed an average viral load of 194.4 IU/mL with a standard deviation (SD) of ± 122.05.
Upcycled art production from post-consumer textile waste to foster environmental sustainability awareness
(Textile,Clothe and Culture, 2025-07-03) Tusaasiirwe, Penilope; Kwesiga, Philip; Njeru, Sophia N.
Upcycling has emerged as one of the counteractive ways of revitalizing discarded materials from their waste streams, preventing environmental harm. Although notable research has been conducted on how various waste materials can be upcycled, a visible gap remains for textile waste, making the industry rated among the most destructive to the environment. The paper set out to creatively upcycle post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) through art, to foster environmental sustainability awareness. Exploratory design was employed to produce six textile woven artworks, communicating the dangers of poor textile waste management such as air, water and soil pollution. Visual data (images) were randomly collected from a sample of Kampala (Uganda)’s outskirts, depicting PCTW management challenges. Further, PCTW was purposively selected from personal collections, family and friends. Artworks were executed using tapestry and soumak weaving textile construction techniques. Findings depict the potential of creative upcycling of PCTW in reducing textile waste amounts disposed of in the environment, to promote environmental sustainability awareness. The study demonstrates PCTW as an alternative sustainable material for art production, with a possibility to transform livelihoods and communities. Finally, it contributes to achieving the UN 2030 SDGs Goals 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Ugandan athletes’ and coaches’ experiences and perceptions on the effectiveness and legitimacy of the doping control process
(BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2025-07-02) Muwonge, Haruna; Lubega, Samuel; Zavuga, Robert; Mukana, Roland; Kasujja, Hassan; Katamba, Godfrey; Nakiddu, Nana Jacqueline; Bbuye, Mudarshiru; Makubuya, Timothy
Background Doping undermines competitive integrity and endangers athlete health, with performance-enhancing substances linked to severe adverse effects. While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) provides standardized testing protocols, developing countries such as Uganda face significant enforcement challenges. This study aimed to explore Ugandan athletes’ and coaches’ experiences and perceptions of the doping control process, emphasizing its effectiveness and legitimacy.
Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted, including a survey of 346 Ugandan athletes using a modified WADA questionnaire to evaluate perceptions on test accuracy, detection likelihood, and enforcement seriousness. Additionally, 196 coaches participated in 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) across four regions of Uganda to provide deeper insights.
Results Athlete participants had a mean age of 24 years (± 6); 82% were male, and only 19% had ever been tested for doping. 56% believed doping tests were more likely during competitions compared to 39% for out-of-competition testing, with 55% confident they could evade detection. Approximately half considered anti-doping procedures fair and transparent. Only 17% felt that “NADO-Uganda” treated athletes equally, with 58% uncertain, indicating limited knowledge rather than a definitive view of unfairness. Coach participants, with a mean age of 32 years (± 14), reinforced the quantitative findings, emphasizing infrequent doping tests and persistent concerns about procedural transparency and fairness, which undermined trust and perceived legitimacy.
Conclusion There are significant gaps in doping control in Uganda, where infrequent testing and ambivalence regarding enforcement transparency diminish anti-doping measures. Strengthening Uganda’s anti-doping framework requires increased testing frequency, culturally tailored education to bridge knowledge gaps, and enhanced procedural transparency and consistency. These measures are essential to establish a credible anti-doping system that supports clean sport values despite resource constraints.
Assistive technology use in education of students with visual impairment: a case study of Angal and Parombo secondary schools in Nebbi district
(Kyambogo University (Unpublised work), 2024-10) Owachgiu, Christopher
Worldwide, the use of assistive technology in the education of students with visual impairment has the potential to improve their academic performance and learning capacity. This study, therefore, examined the use of assistive technology in education of students with visual impairment in secondary schools. The study was guided by the following objectives; the types and conditions of Assistive Technology; how effectively assistive technology is being used in education of Students with visual impairment and perceptions of students with visual impairment towards the use of assistive technology. The study was guided by Critical Disability Theory as a theoretical framework to try to understand the effectiveness of using assistive technology in the education of students with visual impairment. A case study design of the qualitative approach was used. The participants for this study was the students and resource room teachers. The semi-structured interviews and observation methods were used in collecting the data.
Data obtained were thematically analyzed. The findings revealed that there are varieties of assistive technology in the resource rooms but they were few in numbers and students with visual impairment and their teachers lacked the necessary skills and competency to use the available assistive technology, there was irregular power supply; students with visual impairment and their teachers were aware of the positive impacts of assistive technology on their learning, and both teachers and students with visual impairment had positive attitudes towards the use of assistive technology. The study recommended that schools should form alliances with other interested parties for the provision of suitable Assistive Technology equipment; schools with students with visual impairment must form partnerships with sister institutions; the Ministry of Education and Sports should make sure secondary schools have enough assistive technology to support students with visual impairment; there is need for Continuous Professional Development for secondary school teachers on the use of assistive technologies and the school administrators should prioritize repairing the available assistive technology.