Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR)

The Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR) is a peer-reviewed online journal published monthly. The ISSN for the MJAAR Digital Library is ISSN: 3006-6417 (Online). MJAAR is a highly selective journal that covers a wide range of topics, catering to a broad audience interested in academic and applied research across various fields. MJAAR offers numerous advantages designed to enhance research skills and advance academic careers. Publishing in scholarly journals plays a critical role in career progression within academia. Author Benefits Specific to MJAAR Publications: Fast and Efficient Paper Publishing Process: Authors can expect a smooth and timely publication process. Indexing in Prominent Databases: MJAAR is listed in notable platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scirus, get CITED, and others. Expert Peer Review Panel: We are honoured to have a highly respected team of academic reviewers from leading universities around the world. Open Access Journal: This ensures wide visibility and promotion of your published work. MJAAR is managed by a distinguished Board of Editors and is supported by an international review board comprised of prominent academics and professionals from renowned universities, colleges, and institutions across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. To ensure the highest quality standards, all manuscripts submitted to MJAAR undergo a stringent review process, which includes blind reviews by one or more members of the international editorial review board, followed by an in-depth evaluation by MJAAR editors. We are committed to supporting our authors in excelling across all areas of academic and applied research.

Latest Articles

Browse the latest peer-reviewed publications from Metropolitan International University Journals.

Reassessing the 'Skills Gap' Narrative: A Critique of Conceptual Displacement in Ugandan Education Policy

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Ahumuza Audrey2 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

Uganda's education and skilling policy discourse has, over the past decade, converged on the language of a 'skills gap' to explain youth unemployment and weak labour absorption, attributing the problem largely to mismatches between what graduates know and what employers need. This study interrogated that framing empirically and conceptually, asking whether the 'skills gap' is a verifiable labour-market phenomenon or a case of conceptual displacement in which structural, wage, and firm-level constraints are relabelled as deficiencies of graduates and training institutions. Adopting a cross sectional analytical design, the study surveyed 420 formally registered firms across 14 districts of Uganda, capturing firm characteristics, training investment behaviour, wage offers, graduate qualification profiles, and firms' self-reported perception of a skills gap among recently hired graduates.

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Mapping primary-to-tertiary attrition rates and their structural determinants in Uganda's education system

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Musiimenta Nancy2 , Akampurira Sarah3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

This study set out to map primary-to-tertiary attrition rates and structurally model their determinants within Uganda's education system, motivated by the persistent gap between near-universal primary enrolment and the markedly low proportion of learners who ultimately accessed tertiary education. A simulated cross-sectional cohort of 850 learners was constructed proportionally from Uganda's four administrative regions to reflect patterns documented in national education statistics, with each record capturing demographic characteristics, key structural determinants — including household income, parental education level, distance to school, school type, and a composite school infrastructure quality index — as well as attrition status recorded at four successive pipeline transitions: Primary One to Primary Seven (P1–P7), Primary Seven to Senior Four (P7–S4), Senior Four to Senior Six (S4–S6), and Senior Six to tertiary entry (S6–Tertiary). Data were analysed through univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-square tests, independent-samples t-tests, and point-biserial correlations, before structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied with maximum likelihood estimation and robust standard errors, specifying Household Socioeconomic Capital, School Infrastructure Quality, and Geographic Accessibility as latent predictors of attrition.

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Assessing the feasibility of sector-based parliamentary representation in Uganda's governance system

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Dr. Twinomujuni Rosebell2 , Ahumuza Audrey3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

his study assessed the feasibility of introducing sector-based parliamentary representation as a complement or alternative to Uganda's predominantly territorial constituency system, with specific attention to the health, education, agriculture, trade and industry, and disability sectors. The research was motivated by recurrent debates within Uganda's Parliament and civil society on whether geographically-bounded representation adequately channels technical sectoral interests into national legislative and budgetary processes. Using a cross-sectional, quantitativedesign, data were collected from 420 purposively and randomly sampled respondents comprising Members of Parliament, civil society leaders, sector technocrats, and academics drawn from the Central, Western, Eastern, and Northern regions of Uganda.

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The impact of Constituency Development Funds on parliamentary accountability and independence

Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara1 , Akampulira Sarah2 , Dr. Mategeko Betty3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

This study examined the impact of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) on parliamentary accountability and legislative independence in Uganda, drawing on a sample of 312 respondents comprising Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, civil society representatives, and community leaders. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, the study collected primary data using a structured, pre-tested Likert-scale questionnaire. Statistical analyses encompassed univariate descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using maximum likelihood estimation.

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Executive dominance and its effect on parliamentary committee effectiveness in Uganda

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Akampulira Sarah2 , Nabaasa Desire3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

This study examined the effect of executive dominance on parliamentary committee effectiveness in Uganda, drawing on a cross-sectional survey of 312 respondents including members of parliament, committee clerks, civil society representatives, and parliamentary researchers. The study was anchored on the principal-agent theory and the separation of powers doctrine. Three specific objectives guided the inquiry: to assess the extent of executive dominance over parliamentary committees in Uganda; to examine the relationship between executive dominance and committee effectiveness; and to determine the effect of executive dominance on the oversight, legislative review, and budget scrutiny functions of parliamentary committees.

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A comparative analysis of the Sixth Parliament and the 11th Parliament's institutional independence

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Dr. Twinomujuni Rosebell2 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

This study conducted a comparative analysis of the institutional independence of Uganda's Sixth Parliament (2001– 2006) and the Eleventh Parliament (2016–2021), examining how legislative autonomy, budgetary self-determination, oversight capacity, and executive-legislative relations evolved over a fifteen-year period. Drawing on a mixedmethods design underpinned by neo-institutional theory and separation of powers doctrine, the study collected quantitative data from 186 purposively and randomly selected respondents comprising Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, civil society representatives, and legal scholars. Univariate analysis revealed that the Eleventh Parliament recorded higher institutional independence scores across all five measured dimensions, with budgetary autonomy improving from a mean of 52.

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The Relationship Between Legislators' Educational Qualifications And Legislative Oversight Effectiveness In Uganda

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2 , Nabaasa Desire3

Published on 04 Jul 2026

This study examined the relationship between legislators' educational qualifications and legislative oversight effectiveness in Uganda, motivated by persistent concerns over weak parliamentary and local council oversight of public resource utilization despite successive cohorts of more formally educated legislators entering office. The study was guided by one main objective and three specific objectives, namely: to examine the influence of educational qualification on the quality of legislative scrutiny; to assess the mediating role of oversight-related knowledge and skills in this relationship; and to establish the moderating effect of legislative experience on the link between education and oversight effectiveness. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, drawing a sample of 220 legislators and council members from national and selected local government legislative bodies, selected through stratified random sampling.

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Assessing The Effectiveness Of Neem Leaf Extract In Controlling Fall Army Worm In Smallholder Maize

Authors: Gardens In Ikulwe Village, Mayuge District, Uganda

Published on 04 Jun 2026

This study assessed the effectiveness of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract in controlling fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) infestations in smallholder maize gardens in Ikulwe Village, Mayuge District, Uganda. The fall army worm (FAW), an invasive pest that first entered sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, had rapidly established itself as the most economically destructive pest of maize in Uganda, causing yield losses estimated at between 20% and 73% depending on infestation severity and management response. The study employed a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments: neem leaf extract at 100g/L, neem leaf extract at 200g/L, a positive control (lambda-cyhalothrin 5EC), and a negative control (distilled water).

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The Impact Of Mass Communication On Promoting Domestic Tourism In Uganda: A Case Study Of Nation Media Group

Authors: Mutonyi Annet1 , Wamimbi Denis2

Published on 04 Jun 2026

This study examined the impact of mass communication on promoting domestic tourism in Uganda, with a specific focus on the Nation Media Group (NMG) as a case study. Adopting a mixed-methods research design, the study surveyed 267 respondents drawn from NMG staff, tourism industry stakeholders, and domestic travellers, supplemented by in-depth interviews and media content analysis. The study assessed four mass communication channels print media, television, radio, and digital/online platforms—and examined their roles in raising awareness, shaping attitudes, and influencing domestic travel behaviour.

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The Impact Of Social Media On Modern Journalism Practices In Uganda: A Case Study Of NBS Group Of Media Companies, Jinja

Authors: Kazungu Kenneth1 , Oumo Gideon2

Published on 04 Jun 2026

This study examined the impact of social media on modern journalism practices at NBS Group of Media Companies in Jinja, Uganda. The proliferation of social media platforms had fundamentally altered the news production, distribution, and consumption landscape globally, and Uganda's media industry had not been immune to these transformations. The study adopted a descriptive case study research design and collected data from 120 respondents comprising journalists, editors, digital content producers, and senior management personnel at NBS Jinja.

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