Composting of municipal waste produces a marketable compost product that has various benefits. The market dynamics for Municipal Waste Compost however, manifests itself through consumer demands and opinions. The study set out to characterize consumers based on their perceptions and attitudes towards MWC product, determine factors that influence consumer demand for municipal waste compost and also assess the product lifecycle of municipal waste compost. Systematic random sampling, with a random start, was used in selecting 150 households from the comprehensive list of consumers of Municipal Waste Compost that was obtained from the respective composting facilities. Principal factor analysis (PFA) was used to look for constructs that ‗factor‘ well together and have notable loading magnitudes in absolute terms. A multiple linear regression model was estimated and Markov chains forecasting. Consumers of municipal waste compost look at the quality and image of the product. Furthermore, the price of municipal waste compost, and use of animal manure significantly influence the demand for municipal waste compost. However, animal manure has a slightly higher market share among the sampled households than Municipal Waste Compost, which in turn has slightly higher share than inorganic fertilizers. It was explicitly clear that the market share of Municipal Waste Compost will reduce over time by 10% due to consumers switching to animal manure mainly.

The purpose of the study was to design a digital library for Bilal Islamic Institute Library. The objectives of the study were to; identify the information resources and services offered, identify the challenges faced by users and design Digital Library for Bilal Islamic Institute. A case study research design was employed while adopting both qualitative and quantitative research approaches of data collection. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews, questionnaire and observation methods. 2 Librarians were purposively selected whereas convenience sampling was used to select 84 students who participated in the study. The study found out that the different information resources accessible in Bilal Islamic Institute Library were textbooks, past papers and questions banks, handouts and pamphlets, maps and photographs and electronic resources. The various services included reference services, current awareness services, circulation services, reading services, book loan services, and computer services. The challenges included unreliable electricity, poor network connectivity, storage problems, unawareness about the existing sources of information, inadequate support staff, lack of the up to date information in some fields of specialization, inadequate information resources, there is delay in delivery of current awareness information via emails, and sometimes information is not readily available. The solutions to the challenges were training of the library users on the use of ICTs, regular acquisition of the up to date information resources, increasing the funds for the library, and using social media. The study concluded that implementation of the digital library for Bilal Islamic Institute would help librarians easily access information resources from the Institute Library. Greenstone library software was used to develop the digital library for Bilal Islamic Institute. The study recommended Bilal Islamic Institute that it should implement a digital library in order to promote the users access to library services.

The study sought to investigate the impact of influence of Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) on students‟ disciplinary matters in selected secondary schools in Mukono Municipality. The study was based on the following objectives: identifying teachers‟ approaches on discipline, determining the level of awareness of children‟s rights in disciplinary matters and assessment of the influence of students‟ rights awareness on their behaviour. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. A total of 129 respondents participated in the study. These included teachers and students. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Findings of the study revealed that teachers in secondary schools employ disciplinary approaches. These approaches include disciplinary measures that comply with the HRBA and those that defy the HRBA such as corporal punishments contrary to Section 235 of the Penal Code Act. HRBA administered in schools include guidance and counseling, apology letters, restitution, and physical energy assignments. Teacher disciplinary approaches which do not comply with HRBA include caning, flogging, detention, suspension and expulsion. The majority of the teachers (70%) were found to be aware of students‟ rights during the administration of discipline. On the contrary, a small percentage of students (32%) knew that they have a right to be treated fairly during discipline administration in school. The study therefore recommends that school management, head teachers, government and civil society organizations should work hand in hand to ensure use of a HRBA in the process of disciplining students.

Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem faced by women during pregnancy and greatly affects their quality of life, productivity in their daily routine activities and activity limitation. Despite the consistence in complaints of LBP in pregnancy health workers dismiss it as a trivial issue and sometimes refer to it as normal occurrence of pregnancy and sufferers go without treatment. This study sought to determine the prevalence and associated factors of LBP amongst women attending antenatal clinic in Kamuli District Hospital. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting women attending ANC at Kamuli District Hospital. A total of 341 respondents were systematically selected and interviewed using a standardized structured questionnaire. The outcome variable was the occurrence of LBP. Using STATA 15.0 for data analysis, a modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors independently associated with LBP amongst pregnant women. A 95% confidence interval and p value of < 0.05 was used to test significance. Results: The prevalence of LBP amongst respondents was (30.8%; 95% CI 26.13-35.88%) affecting women mainly in third trimester. Respondents who had 3 – 4 ANC visits were more likely to report LBP than those who had 1 – 2 ANC visits (aPR 1.50 (1.06-2.12)). Respondents with no history of pelvic/back accidents were less likely to have LBP as compared to those with history of pelvic/back trauma (aPR 0.40 (0.19-0.84)). Respondents who engaged in daily work routines for more than 2 hours (aPR 0.67 (0.47-0.96)) and 1 – 2 hours (aPR 0.50 (0.29-0.87)) were less likely to have LBP compared to those who engaged in work for less than 1 hour. Respondents who had work breaks of more than 30 minutes were less likely to have LBP (aPR 0.53 (0.31-0.91)). LBP affected the daily functional activities of respondents with 67.6% reporting minimal disability 31.4% moderate disability. Majority of the respondents 79.49% received analgesics for management of LBP while 16.67% received counselling/patient education and only 3.85% received physiotherapy. Conclusion: LBP is a common problem amongst women attending ANC in Kamuli District Hospital and it affects their daily functional activities. It’s associated with duration of activity and duration of work breaks during pregnancy. There is need for Kamuli district Hospital to focus on occupational factors affecting LBP and encourage uptake of physiotherapy services.

During search and rescue missions, the rescue team must look for potential victims after a disaster has taken place and bring them to safety as quickly as possible. Lack of visibility of the victims and their location can waste time and resources and significantly hinder this procedure. In this project, we explore the theory behind deep learning, computer vision specifically object detection, and develop deep learning methods for object detection from aerial infrared (FLIR) thermal images taken by a UAV, with applications in the development of navigational aids for search and rescue operations. We demonstrate that a Faster R-CNN object detection network can be trained and fine-tuned to detect specific objects (survivors) in aerial images. We also seek to demonstrate that using multiple datasets in combination during the training of the network can provide significant performance improvements on test data.

This study aimed at examining the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on economic growth in Rwanda using quaterlised time series data for the period 2000-2017. Employing a time series analysis, the study used the Johansen methodology to infer if there is a cointegrating relationship between economic growth, foreign direct investment and other regressors. The results pointed to one cointegrating relationship linking economic growth in Rwanda to capital formulation, labor, Foreign Direct Investment, trade openness and inflation hence the existence of a long run relationship between them. The long run model indicated that economic growth is negatively linked to Foreign Direct Investment although insignificantly. However, it was positively linked to capital formulation, labor, and trade openness. The direction of impact of capital and labor are in resonance with the Solow growth model. Also, economic growth was found to be negatively related to inflation. The short-run dynamics of economic growth were subsequently modeled by means of an Error correction model. A number of diagnostic tests performed on the ECM yield reasonable results. All of this indicates that economic growth in Rwanda can be rationally explained by the model adopted. The main policy implication of these results is that the Rwandan government should come up with policies which will create an enabling environment for attractive and viable FDI inflows into the country. Also, policy makers should review existing policies to control multinational company operations, minimize excessive profit repatriation and divestments together with encouraging expansive strategies.

This study examined the major determinants of savings in Uganda using secondary annual time series data for the period 1987-2018. The macroeconomic variables used include GDP, gross domestic product per capita GDPC, final consumption expenditure FCE, Gross national expenditure, inflation, merchandise trade, tax on income profits and capital gains and broad money supply. The model was estimated using co-integration and error correction model to analyze the short and long run equilibrium among the variables. The ADF test shows that gross domestic savings, merchandise trade and tax on income profit and capital gains contained unit root at levels. However, all variables were stationary after first difference. Results of the study showed that most variables except Gross national expenditure and broad money supply play a significant role in determining the savings rate in Uganda. The coefficient analysis also shows that GDP, gross domestic product per capita, merchandise trade and broad money supply have a positive impact while the final consumption expenditure, gross national expenditure and inflation revealed negative impact on the savings rate in Uganda. The study also concludes that the speed of adjustment is 18.6% which means that the model will correct short run disequilibrium position at the rate of 18.6% annually. The paper concludes that there is a potential for increased domestic savings and this calls for policy changes and political will among policy makers who should put more emphasis on final consumption expenditure, inflation, taxes, gross domestic product per capita, taxes on incomes profits and capital gains and merchandise trade that influences saving.

This study set out to assess the implementation of Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for infrastructural projects management in Kampala with a purpose of finding appropriate ways to effectively manage and promote the progress of the Kampala Institutional Infrastructural Development Project (KIID-2). The study specific research objectives were: to examine the role of resettlement action plan in the implementation of infrastructural projects; to examine the factors affecting resettlement action plan; to analyze the extent to which RAP affects the effective implementation of infrastructure projects in Kampala. The study is informed with demand for infrastructure in KCCA due to growth in trade, urbanization and growing expectations for restoration of livelihood which makes implementation of RAP indispensable. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The questionnaire- and interview guide were the major data collection instruments. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 to generate descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using developed themes related to the objectives of the study. The major findings show that the role of RAP were negotiations and consultations with project affected people, regular communications concerning resettlement like dates of compensating PAP and cut-off dates, fair compensation, management of grievances, and minimization of social disputes supported with national legislation including the Constitution of Uganda (1995) as amended, and The Land Act (1998) as amended. The factors enabling effective implementation of RAP include regular sensitization of project affected people, timely engagement of stakeholders, agreeing on value of land and other properties of PAP‟s, resources to sustain PAP in the new environments being resettled. The factors were, The land Act especially the fight between landlord and the tenants, interference by politician, absentee Landlord, delays in settlement of grievance and unworthy compensations. Therefore, to a greater extent RAP with coefficient beta (r=0.644, p value =0.000, Adjusted R Square = 0.391) positively influence the effective implementation of infrastructure project. The study recommends that RAP should sensitize project affected community, avail resources, agreeing on value of land and other properties of PAP‟s, following laws and giving adequate attention to all life dimensions to restore livelihood of people affected with the project after being resettled.

Unintended pregnancies may not be a problem to only teenagers or school-going children, married women in Uganda, as well experience similar pregnancies though little has been investigated on them. This study examines the determinants of unintended pregnancies among currently married women in Uganda. The study was based on data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey which comprised of 11,223 married women aged 15-49 years in Uganda. The investigations were made by socio-economic, demographic, and intermediate factors. The analysis was done using logistic regression, Poisson regression, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test for survival functions, cox proportional hazards model, and the generalized structural equation model with logit and log link functions. Results show that 37% of the pregnancies were unintended and 3 in 10 married women had never used contraceptives to delay or avoid pregnancy. At the bivariate level, married women from rich households were less likely to experience unintended pregnancy (OR=0.45, p=0.000); those with secondary/higher education were more likely to have used contraceptives (OR=4.06, p=0.000) while married women from rural areas were more likely to have more children (IRR=1.35, p=0.000). Still, increasing age at first marriage postpones age at first birth (HR=0.85, p=0.000). At multivariate level, woman’s age, region, place of residence, religion, woman’s education level, wealth index, occupation, partner’s age, partner’s education level, age at first sex, age at first marriage, age at first birth, children ever born and contraceptive use directly or indirectly influence unintended pregnancy. In conclusion, young women, the poor, un employed, those in eastern or northern region, women residing in rural areas, women with no education and those with high parity were at a higher risk of unintended pregnancies. The study therefore recommends ensuring increased access to family planning methods, having improved household incomes and providing free adult education as key preventive measures of unintended pregnancies.

This study was carried out on, „Tutors‟ Competences and Implementation of Early Childhood Education (ECE) Curriculum in Primary Teachers‟ Colleges (PTCs) in Eastern Uganda.‟ The study was anchored on the Pragmatism Paradigm. The specific study purpose was to examine the current implementation process of the ECE Curriculum with a focus on the competences of tutors to train quality teachers in PTCs. The Researcher‟s motivation was on the apparent national overwhelming concern on the ECE Curriculum which is intended to improve teacher preparation for desired quality. The problem was the increasing claims on gaps inhibiting ECE hands-on-learning in PTCs which has a significant bearing on learners‟ readiness to breakthrough to literacy in primary schools. The study sought to achieve four objectives: to assess tutors‟ knowledge of the ECE Pedagogy, to establish tutors‟ competences in the implementation of the ECE Curriculum, to find out the extent to which tutors exhibit pedagogical standards required in ECE implementation and identify challenges faced by tutors in ECE Curriculum implementation in PTCs. The study adopted a Cross-sectional survey design with mixed approaches. The study population comprised of Tutors of ECE, Teacher Trainees, Principals, Deputy Principals, HoD ECE at Kyambogo University, Commissioner in-charge ECE in the MoES, Headteachers and teachers of lower primary classes (P1-P3). The study sample comprised of a total of 306 respondents and participants purposively selected. The study data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, an interview guide, document analysis guide and an observation checklist. The study generated predominantly qualitative data backed up with some quantitative data. It was revealed that majority of the tutors had the required knowledge of ECE pedagogy. Tutors‟ competences of ECE implementation were established at an average of 71.4% although inclined on preparing the trainees for „pen and paper‟ examinations, a minority of tutors exhibited pedagogical standards to be emulated by their trainees to a very minimal extent. The frequently reported challenges of inadequate funding, inadequate time and inadequate access to practicum opportunities did not aid tutors in the preparation of trainees holistically. In conclusion, tutors‟ knowledge of ECE pedagogy was theoretical. Tutors‟ competences in ECE implementation were influenced by traditional approaches to teaching due to pressure for syllabus coverage and National elimination examinations. The extent to which tutors exhibited pedagogical standards in ECE Curriculum implementation was too insignificant to mentor their trainees and the challenges in ECE implementation did not aid tutors to scaffold the training of the Head, Heart and Hand (3Hs) of the teacher trainees. It was, therefore, recommended that specific CPDs be initiated to build tutors‟ capacity in the required practical knowledge of ECE pedagogy through the Down-Top approach. Kyambogo‟s initiative to reduce on the theory National examinations can reduce pressure on „pen and paper‟ examinations to boost practical skills and help tutors pay much attention to methods which enforce practical approaches to learning. National guidelines by MoES as well as in-service capacity building courses for tutors should be provided to enforce exhibition of pedagogical standards in terms of practicality, sense of humour, reflection, Modeling and Mentorship. There is need to design minimum requirements for PTCs on ECE, including a Model ECD Centre within the PTC as a Laboratory of Pedagogy to enhance continuous hands-on practice among the trainees. The study‟s contribution is the Paradigm Shift from the traditional to a more innovative practice of contextualising the existing pedagogy to enforce teacher preparation for quality education by facilitating learners to breakthrough to literacy and realise their full potential with a focus on the 21st. Century education. Key words: Evaluation, Pedagogical competences, Early Childhood Education and Curriculum.