The study examined the relationship between recruitment and selection practices and institutional development at All
Saints Church, Nakasero, Kampala. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 114 respondents
comprising staff, volunteers, and church leaders. The findings revealed that structured recruitment processes
significantly enhanced organizational capacity, with 78.9% of respondents indicating that merit-based selection
improved service quality. Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between transparent
recruitment practices and institutional growth. The study concluded that effective recruitment and selection practices
are fundamental to the transformation and sustainable development of non-governmental religious organizations. Key
recommendations included implementing standardized recruitment protocols, enhancing selection transparency, and
establishing continuous evaluation mechanisms to ensure optimal talent acquisition.

Digital payment systems represented transformative financial technologies reshaping retail business operations and
growth trajectories. This study examined the impact of digital payment systems on small retail business growth among
SMEs in Kampala Central Business District, Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design using mixed
methods approaches. A sample of 156 respondents comprising SME owners, managers, and employees from retail
businesses was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and
key informant interviews. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple
regression analysis using SPSS version 26. The study revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.781, p < 0.01)
between digital payment adoption and retail business growth. Mobile money showed the strongest correlation with
sales growth (r = 0.824, p < 0.01). Point-of-sale systems correlated significantly with customer base expansion (r =
0.756, p < 0.01). Digital payment convenience demonstrated positive correlation with transaction volume increases (r
= 0.698, p < 0.05). The regression model explained 74.3% of variance in business growth (R² = 0.743). Businesses
using digital payments reported 47.6% higher revenue growth compared to cash-only businesses. Transaction
efficiency improved by 62.8%, while operational costs decreased by 23.4% among digital payment adopters. Customer
satisfaction increased by 54.7% due to payment flexibility. Digital payment systems significantly enhanced small
retail business growth in Kampala CBD. Mobile money, POS systems, and online payment platforms collectively
increased sales volumes, expanded customer bases, improved operational efficiency, and reduced transaction costs.
However, adoption barriers including setup costs, technical challenges, and digital literacy gaps limited widespread
uptake. The Bank of Uganda should reduce digital payment transaction fees for small businesses to incentivize
adoption. Payment service providers should develop simplified, affordable solutions tailored to SME needs with
comprehensive training programs. Kampala Capital City Authority should facilitate digital payment infrastructure
deployment through tax incentives and streamlined licensing. SMEs should prioritize digital payment integration as
strategic investments for competitive advantage and sustainable growth.

This study critically examined the nature, mechanisms, and durability of behavioral adaptation among African
sojourners in Dubai, and assessed implications for cross-cultural policy transfer debates. Using a mixed-methods
design, the research surveyed 847 current African sojourners in Dubai and 412 returnees across five African countries
(Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Uganda) between January and October 2024, supplemented by 64 semistructured interviews. Quantitative measures assessed behavioral compliance across traffic, workplace, public
conduct, and civic responsibility domains, alongside constructs measuring perceived enforcement intensity, fear of
consequences, norm internalization, and intentions for behavioral maintenance. Results revealed substantial
behavioral improvements among sojourners in Dubai compared to self-reported pre-migration baselines (mean
composite change: +21.0 points on 100-point scale), but near-complete regression to original behavioral patterns
among returnees (mean change: -17.4 points). Univariate analyses demonstrated significant differences across all
behavioral domains (p

This mixed-methods study investigated the prevalence, impacts, and determinants of mood fluctuations and egodriven behaviors among research supervisors in Ugandan universities. A convergent parallel design was employed,
involving a cross-sectional survey of 384 postgraduate students from five purposively selected institutions,
complemented by 15 in-depth interviews, 12 key informant interviews, 6 focus group discussions, and document
analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate statistics, bivariate correlations, independent t-tests, and
structural equation modeling to examine relationships between institutional factors, supervisor behaviors, and student
outcomes. Results revealed that 75.3% of students experienced mood fluctuations and 80.5% encountered ego-driven
behaviors from supervisors, with intellectual superiority displays (84.9%) and inconsistent emotional responses
(81.3%) being most prevalent. Public universities exhibited significantly higher levels of both behavior categories
compared to private institutions. Bivariate analyses demonstrated strong negative correlations between supervisor
problematic behaviors and research progress (r=-0.58 to -0.62, p

Background: Research supervision quality significantly impacts postgraduate student outcomes, yet supervisors'
emotional and psychological characteristics remain under-examined, particularly in resource-constrained contexts.
This study investigated fluctuating moods and ego-driven behaviors among research supervisors in Uganda's private
universities and their effects on student experiences and outcomes.
Methods: A mixed-methods convergent parallel design was employed across five private universities in Uganda
during March-August 2024. Participants included 212 postgraduate students selected through stratified random
sampling and 45 research supervisors purposively selected, along with 12 in-depth interviews with students
experiencing severe supervisory challenges. Data were collected using validated questionnaires (Cronbach's alphas:
0.87 for students, 0.82 for supervisors) measuring frequency and intensity of mood fluctuations, ego-driven behaviors,
and impacts. Quantitative data underwent univariate analysis (descriptive statistics), bivariate analysis (Pearson
correlations, chi-square tests, ANOVA), and mixed-effects logistic regression modeling to account for hierarchical
data structure (students nested within supervisors and universities). Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using
NVivo software.
Results: Descriptive analysis revealed high prevalence of problematic behaviors, with 52.4% of students frequently
experiencing supervisors alternating between supportive and dismissive attitudes (M=3.42, SD=1.08) and 56.6%
encountering methodological rigidity without justification (M=3.52, SD=1.14). Bivariate analyses showed supervisor
workload positively correlated with both mood fluctuations (r=0.52, p

This study examined the conceptual evolution of patriotism and its role in political mobilization in the 21st century,
with particular attention to how shifting socio-political environments have reshaped the meaning, expression, and
utility of patriotic sentiment. Drawing on a cross-sectional survey design involving 412 respondents from diverse
demographic backgrounds, the study investigated the structural relationships between patriotic identity, nationalist
sentiment, media influence, civic engagement, and political mobilization. Data were collected using a structured,
validated questionnaire encompassing Likert-scale items across six composite constructs. Analytical procedures
employed included univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate Pearson correlation analysis, and Structural Equation
Modeling (SEM) estimated via Maximum Likelihood in AMOS 24.0. Descriptive findings revealed that patriotic
identity scored highest among all measured constructs (M = 3.84, SD = 0.76), underscoring the continued salience of
national identity in contemporary public consciousness. Bivariate correlations demonstrated strong, statistically
significant positive associations between all study variables, with patriotic identity exhibiting the strongest correlation
with political mobilization (r = 0.623, p < .001). SEM path analysis revealed that patriotic identity was the strongest
direct predictor of political mobilization (β = 0.512, p < .001), followed by civic engagement (β = 0.334, p < .001).
The overall SEM model demonstrated good fit (χ²/df = 1.87, CFI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.046), confirming the structural
validity of the hypothesized theoretical model. The study concluded that contemporary patriotism functions as a
dynamic political resource capable of energizing civic participation and electoral mobilization when strategically
cultivated through media and institutional channels. The study recommends institutional investment in constructive
civic education, critical media literacy programs, and policy frameworks that distinguish constructive patriotism from
exclusionary nationalism, so as to foster inclusive national identity and democratic political participation.

This study investigated the role of time mindset as a foundational competency among learners in Uganda's
Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). Anchored in the theoretical premise that metacognitive temporal awareness is
integral to self-regulated learning, the study examined the prevalence of time mindset, its association with academic
behaviours, and its predictive value for CBC-aligned academic performance. A cross-sectional quantitative design was
employed, drawing a sample of 400 learners from Grades 5, 6, and 7 across government and private primary schools
in Uganda. Data were collected using a structured, researcher-administered questionnaire and subjected to univariate,
bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses. Findings revealed that only 34.5% of learners exhibited a strong
time mindset, while 41.0% demonstrated a moderate level and 24.5% a weak time mindset. Bivariate analyses
established statistically significant associations between time mindset strength and assignment completion rates,
punctuality, and CBC performance scores (χ²=64.27; p

This study critically analyzed Timbuktu's pre-colonial scholarly production to reclaim its position within global
intellectual history and examine how colonial and postcolonial discourses have shaped contemporary understandings
of African scholarship. Despite Timbuktu's historical prominence as an Islamic intellectual center housing hundreds
of thousands of manuscripts, dominant narratives have systematically marginalized its contributions through
Eurocentric epistemologies that position Africa as peripheral to knowledge production. The research addressed three
specific objectives: identifying major fields and methodological approaches characterizing Timbuktu's scholarship;
examining transnational networks connecting Timbuktu to broader Islamic intellectual communities; and investigating
colonial and postcolonial impacts on preservation and interpretation of this heritage. A mixed-methods approach
combined content analysis of 450 manuscripts (1400-1591) from major collections, bibliometric network analysis of
2,340 scholarly citations, and 23 semi-structured interviews with contemporary custodians and heritage specialists.
Univariate analyses described manuscript distributions across subjects, with Islamic jurisprudence dominating
(39.6%), followed by astronomy/mathematics (19.8%) and medicine (14.9%). Bivariate analyses revealed significant
associations between citation origins and author travel histories, while network measures positioned Timbuktu as a
central hub (betweenness centrality = 0.68) within Islamic scholarly networks. Mixed-effects logistic regression
demonstrated that manuscript subject, temporal period, and author mobility significantly predicted transnational
scholarly engagement, with historical works (OR = 4.12) and scientific texts (OR = 3.27) showing highest odds of
cosmopolitan orientation. Results challenged colonial narratives by demonstrating sophisticated knowledge
production characterized by methodological rigor, extensive geographic engagement spanning North Africa to the
Middle East, and original contributions that circulated transnationally. However, findings also revealed how colonial
disruptions fragmented this intellectual tradition and how contemporary preservation faces challenges of resource
constraints and epistemological marginalization. The study concluded that reclaiming Timbuktu's legacy requires not
merely historical documentation but fundamental restructuring of knowledge systems to center African
epistemologies, support community-led preservation, and recognize pre-colonial traditions as vital resources for
contemporary scholarship. Recommendations emphasized developing digital infrastructure with community
ownership, integrating African scholarship into global curricula, and establishing preservation models prioritizing
local authority over external research agendas.

This study conducted a critical quantitative examination of the "dehumanization" thesis as it applies to Christian
religious contexts, investigating the extent to which doctrinal rigidity, religious participation patterns, and institutional
belonging either diminish or affirm human dignity among practicing Christians. Drawing on survey data collected
from 412 adult Christian respondents across five denominations in Uganda, the study employed univariate descriptive
analysis, bivariate Pearson correlation analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to interrogate complex
relationships among perceived dehumanization, human dignity affirmation, doctrinal rigidity, communal belonging,
and spiritual well-being. Results revealed that doctrinal rigidity was the strongest predictor of perceived
dehumanization experiences (β = .54, p < .001), while active religious participation (β = −.31, p < .001), human dignity
affirmation (β = −.47, p < .001), and communal belonging exerted significant protective effects. The SEM
measurement model demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = .967, RMSEA = .026), and the structural model accounted for
61% of variance in dehumanization experience. These findings partially supported the dehumanization thesis but
revealed its conditional nature: Christianity's tendency to diminish or affirm human essence was found to be highly
dependent on the theological orientation, participatory culture, and relational quality of specific congregational
contexts. The study recommended targeted theological education, denomination-level dignity policies, and pastoral
restructuring to mitigate dehumanization risks embedded in rigid doctrinal frameworks.

This qualitative study examined the role of self-confidence as a core educational competency within Uganda's
secondary and tertiary schooling system, investigating how the prevailing culture of risk aversion, fear of failure, and
limited academic self-efficacy undermines graduate employability and entrepreneurial capacity. Guided by the
conceptual framework of 'Say Yes and Learn Later' — a disposition that prioritises taking initiative and learning
adaptively on the job — the study sought to understand lived experiences of learners, educators, and employers
regarding confidence deficits in Uganda's education landscape. Data were collected through in-depth individual
interviews with 30 participants drawn purposively from students, secondary school teachers, university lecturers, and
private sector employers in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mbarara districts. Focus group discussions were also conducted
with two groups of final-year university students (n=12 per group), while document analysis of national curriculum
frameworks and institutional policy documents provided contextual depth. Thematic analysis was applied to organise
and interpret emergent patterns across the data. Findings revealed that Uganda's education system is heavily
examination-oriented, which systematically suppresses student agency, reduces tolerance for ambiguity, and
discourages creative risk-taking. Three major thematic clusters emerged: first, the systemic structural barriers
embedded in rote-learning pedagogies; second, the role of socio-cultural norms — including deference to authority
and fear of public failure — in eroding student confidence; and third, the disconnect between institutional outputs and
employer expectations, particularly around self-directedness and initiative. The study concludes that educational
reform in Uganda must deliberately embed confidence as a measurable and teachable competency, supported by policy
reforms that shift assessment from recall-based models toward competency-based and experiential learning
frameworks. Recommendations include the integration of entrepreneurship confidence modules into the national
curriculum, training of educators in facilitative pedagogy, and the establishment of mentorship ecosystems that
reinforce adaptive learning cultures.