Busitema University Open Access Digital Repository

From locked storerooms to learning hubs : reimagining community libraries for self-directed learning in rural Uganda.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

From locked storerooms to learning hubs : reimagining community libraries for self-directed learning in rural Uganda. Lugya, Fredrick Kiwuwa; Mukungu, Isaac Purpose – This study aims to explore how primary school learners in rural Uganda can be supported to engage in self-directed learning (SDL) within the competence-based curriculum (CBC), focusing on the potential of community libraries and low tech digital tools as enabling infrastructures. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative dominant mixed-methods design guided by Critical Incident Technique was used, using structured surveys (n = 100 pupils), semi-structured interviews (30 pupils, f ive teachers, five headteachers, one district education officer) and ten focus group discussions (three to five pupils each) across ten primary schools in Busia District, Uganda. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings – While 97% of pupils receive homework, only 37% have textbooks at home; digital tools are absent. Only 16% identify parents as homework helpers; and 29% fail to complete homework due to domestic labour demands. School “libraries” function as locked textbook storerooms − 82% of pupils have visited, but access is teacher mediated and transactional. No facilitative services, diverse collections or conducive learning spaces exist. Research limitations/implications – Findings are context specific to one Ugandan district. Longitudinal and intervention research is needed to test the proposed library reconfiguration model and its impact on SDL competency development over time. Practical implications – This study recommends a multilevel strategy: transforming school book storerooms into curated resource and guidance hubs; adopting a “low tech first” digital approach (solar audio players, offline digital libraries); training community facilitator networks; and integrating library-based SDL support into national curriculum and policy frameworks. Originality – This research addresses a critical gap by centring rural learner perspectives and positioning community libraries as dynamic, facilitative hubs within SDL discourse in a low-resource Sub-Saharan African context. It extends SDL theory by demonstrating that in contexts of extreme scarcity, Garrison’s self- management dimension requires a “foundational” layer of basic resource provision. Keywords Self-directed learning, Rural education, Community libraries, Competence-based curriculum, Digital tools, Uganda Research paper

Positioning Academic Libraries as Catalysts for Open Access in Africa with Dr. Fredrick Lugya (ULIA).

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Positioning Academic Libraries as Catalysts for Open Access in Africa with Dr. Fredrick Lugya (ULIA). Lugya, Frederick Kiwuwa; Owango, Joy This episode features Dr. Frederick Kiwuwa Lugya, University Librarian at Busitema University and President of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA). Dr. Lugya discusses the transformative power of Open Science and the critical role academic libraries play in bridging the gap between researchers and public access. He shares insights from his 20-year journey in librarianship, the challenges of high-cost academic resources, and his advocacy for a National Open Access Policy in Uganda to ensure that publicly funded research remains accessible to all. Key themes include: the necessity of open access and institutional repositories; policy and sustainability of open science; the evolving roles of librarians in data curation and AI; and disciplinary information literacy integrated into university curricula at Busitema University. Dr. Lugya also describes a pioneering discipline-based information literacy programme at Busitema University, funded by the Engineering Information Foundation (EIF) of New York, which embeds librarians directly into engineering curricula, enabling students to find, evaluate, cite, and ethically use information as part of competence-based learning.

A report carried out at Pallisa town council, Pallisa district.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

A report carried out at Pallisa town council, Pallisa district. Chepkwemoi, Winny This executive summary/abstract contains the most practical work carried out, challenges and conclusions. The intern carried out a number of practical works which include preparation of a cash budget, posting of a transaction in a cask book, preparation of a one column cashbook, bank reconciliation, going to field to mobilize revenue, participating in handing over of construction contract to the contractor for the third phase, writing of payment vouchers, attending council on budget approval , attending Women GROW function, attending women day celebration at Busitema university grounds , preparation of costed work plan using a Microsoft excel sheet. Despite the fact that the intern enjoyed the practical work however, the intern faced the following challenges a lot of beaurocracy in office, fear, inadequate computers, power shortages, lack of lunch, lack of transport fund, lack of safe water for drinking, intimidation especially during field work by the tenants at the lockups, poor sanitation and language barrier. In conclusion, the intern enjoyed the practical work so much and has enriched the intern with new skills regarding to her profession and transforming the theoretical work learnt in class into practice Internship report

Managerial effectiveness, internal audit quality and financial reporting quality:

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Managerial effectiveness, internal audit quality and financial reporting quality: Kisule, Yolamu The aim of the study is to examine the association between managerial effectiveness, internal audit quality and financial reporting quality. The study objectives included; to examine the link between managerial effectiveness and financial reporting quality, to establish the association between managerial effectiveness and internal audit quality, to examine the association between internal audit quality and financial reporting quality, and to establish the mediating relationship of internal audit quality on managerial effectiveness and financial reporting quality among public statutory corporations in Uganda. The study applied the the principal agent theory, and a cross sectional research design with a target population of 82, and a sample size of 66 public statutory corporations identified with the aid of Krejcie and Morgan (1970) Table for determining a sample size and selected basing on simple random sampling technique. The questionnaire instrument was used and checked for validity and reliability using expert judgement and Cronbach alpha coefficient. Descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and Sobel 1982-Test was used to analyze for mediation effect, and the results indicated a significant correlation between managerial effectiveness, internal audit quality and financial reporting quality, whilst regression results revealed significant association between managerial effectiveness and financial reporting quality (R2 = 0.11, β = 0.49, P < 0.05), managerial effectiveness and internal audit quality (R2 = 0.09, β = 0.37, P ≥ 0.05), and internal audit quality with the quality of financial reporting (R2 =0.67, β = 1.01, P > 0.05). The findings further show that internal audit quality partially mediates managerial effectiveness and financial reporting quality (Sobel Z-value 2.5345268 ≥ P-value of 0.000001). The study concluded that internal audit quality conveys the inputs of managerial effectiveness to induce completeness, consistency, understandability, verifiability and timeliness in financial reporting. The study recommends integrating internal audit quality with managerial effectiveness to improve financial reporting quality. Future scholars should examine the influence of external auditing quality and financial reporting quality to broaden the development and understanding of the concept of organizational auditing. Dissertation