The recent liberalization of the electricity market and increased environmental concerns as well as an increase in energy demand across the globe have brought the use of renewable energy sources such as wind energy to the fore. Some of the potential benets of renewable energy sources (RESs) are: localized generation, environmental-friendliness, generation of clean energy, reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase in energy generation for increasing demand, and reduction in transmission losses. However, high penetration of RESs exposes power grids to several challenges. Some of these challenges for RESs are: increases in voltage prole level, high power losses, reverse power ow (RPF), protection and control issues. The main concern of this research work is RPF. RPF is a situation whereby excess power generated on a grid as a result of high integration or penetration of RES is fed back to the source of generation. RPF exposes power grids to various challenges; aside from causing grid instability. RPF incurs additional losses on the grid, causing over-voltage and overloading of the connecting elements such as conductors and transformers. In recent times, various control strategies have been deployed to mitigate these eects on the grid. Energy management systems (EMSs) with energy storage devices (ESDs) are the most commonly applied strategies. However, intrusion into consumers' privacy and the high cost of energy storage devices poses a challenge to this approach. Voltage rise (VR) is one of the consequences of RPF. Line impedance reduction and reactive power compensation using exible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices are some of the methods use for voltage rise control. On-load tap changer transformers (OLTCs), generation curtailment and reverse power relay are also deployed to control RPF. However, reactive power compensation and generation curtailment approaches lead to power losses and voltage instability respectively. This thesis proposes a more secure method for utilising reverse power ow to supply power to modern electric vehicle (EV) charging stations through a multi-port power electronic transformer (MPPET). The proposed method consists of a RPF detection stage (RPFDS) electrically coupled to the point of common coupling (PCC), which discriminates between the total power generated on the grid and the actual load demand. A smart circuit breaker operates as soon as it picks up signal from RPFDS. The MPPET receives power from RPF utilization substation which is then used for electric vehicle (EV) charging. The method was validated experimentally in the laboratory. The results of the research work proved the eectiveness of the MPPET in voltage regulation and in RPF utilisation.

The study sought to examine the factors influencing women entrepreneurs’ performance in Uganda. The embraced research design included cross sectional design with a quantitative approach. The study used a questionnaire to obtain responses to items on the study constructs, and obtained a response of 298 out of a sample of 395 women entrepreneurs in Kampala. The research instrument was confirmed for validity and reliability with the help of the content validity index and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics in accordance with the research objectives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse responses to the questionnaire. On the other hand, inferential statistics were used to examine the significance of the relationship (Pearson’s correlation) between entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, entrepreneur goals, environmental conditions and women entrepreneurial performance. To examine the influence of these factors on performance of women entrepreneurs, multiple regression analysis was utilized. This was also used to determine the variance in performance that was attributable to these factors. Findings revealed that, entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, entrepreneur goals, and environmental conditions related significantly with performance of women entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur goals showed the highest influence, followed by human capital. Entrepreneurial orientation considered alone had a significant influence but with consideration of other factors, it had no significant influence on women entrepreneurial performance. Environmental conditions specifically government support was found to strengthen the effect of human capital, entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneur goals. The study recommended that, for women entrepreneurs to increase their performance, they should increase their orientation towards; risk taking, innovation, pro-activeness in business, competitive aggressiveness; strive for increasing necessary knowledge, practical skills and experiences in starting, managing and sustaining entrepreneurial ventures; set, review and update entrepreneurial goals that will drive their efforts towards successful entrepreneurial performance. The study further recommended that Government should ensure a conducive gender-sensitive entrepreneurship environment for women entrepreneurship to thrive.

The study sought to examine the influence of organizational factors on employee commitment among public Universities in Uganda, with a view of finding out how public universities can improve the commitment of their staff to achieve their goals. Organizational factors included; organizational dependability, organizational climate and organizational social processes while employee commitment constituted affective, continuance and normative commitment. The study adopted cross-sectional, descriptive and explanatory research designs with quantitative research approach. The sample for the study population of 1343 staff in the two universities (Makerere and Kyambogo) was 302 staff selected using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sampling guidelines, to which copies of a questionnaire was distributed, yielding a response rate of 220 staff , equivalent to 72.8%. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20 with the help of descriptive statistics which summarized responses provided on a 5-point likert scale and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation and Regression) for establishing the significance of the relation and the cause-effect relationships. The study established that, organizational dependability, organizational climate and organizational social processes had significant relationships with employee commitment. Organizational social processes had the highest significant relationship with commitment, followed by organizational climate and then organizational dependability. Results further revealed that, these organizational factors had a positive effect on the commitment of staff at the selected universities. It was concluded that, the low commitment of staff at universities was mainly explained by weaknesses in organizational social processes, followed by organizational climate and then organizational dependability. The study recommended that universities in Uganda should highly ensure effectiveness of their social processes, their organizational climate and dependability in order to improve staff commitment.

The study was purposeful on the effect of risk management on procurement performance of PDEs in Uganda, taking the case study of MoFPED. Particularly, the study established the effect of risk identification, risk assessment, risk analysis, risk control and risk management as a whole on procurement performance, measured on efficiency and effectiveness of public procurement in the ministry. A cross-sectional survey design, with a mixed approach to data collection and analysis was utilized. The research sample size was 103 MoFPED staff of which questionnaires for 95 staff were returned, thus getting a response rate of 92.2%.Results from quantitative analysis were complemented with qualitative responses from 4 PPDA participants for triangulation. Responses from ministry staff which were anchored on a 5-point likert scale were summarized with the help of descriptive statistics first, followed by the use of Pearson’s correlation to find out whether procurement risk management and its components; identification, assessment, analysis and control had a significant relationship with procurement performance. This was then followed by the use of regression analysis to the effect and predictive power of procurement risk identification, risk assessment, risk analysis, risk control and risk management as a whole on procurement performance. The study found out that; the extent of risk identification was moderately satisfactory (mean = 3.1053) and this had a significant influence on procurement performance (r =.403**; sig. 000; p<.01; beta = 0.403; sig.000; R square change = .163); The extent of risk assessment was low (mean = 2.8105) and this had a significant influence on procurement performance (r =.617**; sig. 000; p<.01; beta = 0.617; sig.000; R square change = .38); The extent of risk analysis was low (mean = 2.3316) and this had a significant influence on procurement performance (r =.833**; sig. 000; p<.01; beta = 0.833; sig.000; R square change = .694); The extent of risk control was low (mean = 2.1316) and this had a significant influence on procurement performance (r =.768**; sig. 000; p<.01; beta = 0.768; sig.000; R square change = .590). Overall, findings revealed that, risk management was inadequate and this significantly influenced procurement performance (r = .810**; sig.000; p<.01; beta =.810; sig.000; R square change = 0.656) The study concluded that, the unsatisfactory procurement performance of the ministry was mainly attributed to weaknesses in procurement risk management. The study thus recommended that, MoFPED and other PDEs should highly ensure effective risk management in their procurement activities to improve procurement performance.