This study examined the moderating role of health centre characteristics in the relationship between psychosocial work environment and quality of health care in Health Centre IVs in South Western Uganda. The study adopted a mixed-methods cross-sectional design grounded in a critical realist philosophical orientation. Data were collected from 35 Health Centre IVs in Southwestern Uganda, involving 238 healthcare workers, 172 health service recipients, and six District Health Officers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, hierarchical regression, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between psychosocial work environment and quality of health care (r = .496**, p < .01). SEM results indicated that psychosocial work environment was positively and significantly associated with quality of health care (? = .507, p < .001), while health centre characteristics were also positively and significantly associated with quality of health care (? = .161, p < .001). More importantly, the interaction between psychosocial work environment and health centre characteristics was positive and statistically significant (? = .235, p < .001), indicating that favorable health centre characteristics strengthened the positive relationship between psychosocial work environment and quality of health care. These findings suggest that improving workplace conditions alone may not achieve optimal service quality unless supported by favorable organizational and structural conditions within Health Centre IVs. This study extends the literature by demonstrating that health centre characteristics significantly moderate the relationship between psychosocial work environment and quality of health care.
We model mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) among individuals aged 30–70 years in the United States using quarterly time-series data covering the period 2000 to 2024. We adopt an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) framework to examine both the long-run trajectory and short-run fluctuations in premature adult mortality. Quarterly data obtained from the World Bank are employed, with mortality from CVD, cancer, diabetes, or CRD specified as the dependent variable, while autoregressive (AR) and moving average (MA) terms capture the inherent temporal dependence in mortality dynamics. Parameter estimation is conducted using the conditional least squares (CLS) technique. Results reveal a positive and statistically significant AR(1) coefficient of 0.987144, indicating strong persistence and inertia in mortality patterns, whereby current mortality outcomes are heavily influenced by their past realizations. In contrast, the MA(4) coefficient is negative and statistically significant at –0.697195, suggesting that short-run shocks to mortality, such as transitory health crises or policy interventions are gradually corrected over time. This dynamic adjustment mechanism reinforces the tendency of the series to revert toward its long-run path. The estimated ARIMA(1,1,4) model satisfies both covariance stationarity and invertibility conditions, confirming its econometric soundness and suitability for forecasting. The adjusted R-squared value of 0.835857 indicates that approximately 83.6% of the variation in premature adult mortality is explained by the model’s dynamic structure, underscoring its strong explanatory power. Out-of-sample forecasts extending to 2050 project a sustained and gradual decline in mortality rates, with levels converging toward approximately 4% by mid-century. These projections are consistent with ongoing improvements in healthcare access, disease prevention strategies, medical technology, and public health interventions in the United States. The study recommends sustained and targeted investments in non-communicable disease prevention, early diagnosis, and health system resilience to consolidate and accelerate the observed long-term decline in premature adult mortality.
The financial performance of construction companies is increasingly dependent on effective asset management practices that enhance operational efficiency, reduce project delays, and strengthen long-term sustainability. Despite the construction sector’s significant contribution to Uganda’s economic development, firms within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area continue to experience weak profitability, high debt ratios, and cost overruns, partly attributed to poor asset management systems. This study examined the effect of asset management on the financial performance of construction companies in the region, focusing on three key dimensions: asset register accessibility, repair and maintenance scheduling, and budget tracking and forecasting. Guided by the Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 191 construction companies selected through proportionate sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to gather quantitative data, and instrument validity and reliability were confirmed through expert review and Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression. Findings revealed that all three asset management practices were positively associated with financial performance. Asset register accessibility showed a moderate significant relationship with financial performance (r = .313, p < .01), while repair and maintenance scheduling demonstrated a weaker but significant association (r = .273, p < .01). Budget tracking and forecasting also exhibited a positive relationship (r = .168, p < .01). Hierarchical regression results further indicated that asset register accessibility contributed the largest increase in explained variance (9.4%), followed by budget tracking and forecasting (2.7%), while the contribution of repair and maintenance scheduling was positive but minimal and statistically insignificant in the final model. Overall, the models explained 15% of the variance in financial performance. The study concludes that effective asset management enhances financial performance, particularly when firms maintain accessible and up-to-date asset registers and implement robust budgeting and forecasting systems. It recommends that construction firms strengthen digital asset management systems, adopt preventive maintenance schedules, and integrate data-driven financial planning tools to improve profitability, ensure timely project delivery, and enhance financial resilience in an increasingly competitive construction environment.
Municipalities in South Africa continue to face criticism for weak governance systems and poor service delivery to communities. Many district and local municipalities struggle with financial management challenges, limited institutional capacity, and ineffective risk management practices. This study examines the relationship between corporate governance and municipal risk management in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. The research focuses on four local municipalities within the district and explores how governance practices influence municipal performance and accountability. A mixed-methods approach was adopted to generate both quantitative and qualitative insights. Quantitative data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 216 municipal officials, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 45 purposively selected participants. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27, applying descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, ANOVA, and regression techniques. Qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis to identify patterns related to governance roles, risk management processes, and institutional accountability. The findings reveal notable gaps in corporate governance knowledge and implementation across the municipalities. However, the principle of fairness emerged as a critical factor influencing municipal performance and stakeholder trust. The study recommends strengthening governance capacity through continuous training, improved stakeholder engagement, and better integration of corporate governance principles into municipal decision-making processes.
We investigate the interaction effect of government expenditure and inflation on the trade balance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We utilize balanced annual panel data for 20 SSA countries over the period 2005 to 2024 sourced from the World Development Indicators. We apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to control for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and the dynamic nature of trade balance adjustment. Empirical results indicate a positive and statistically significant interaction between government expenditure and inflation. The estimated coefficient of the interaction term (GEX*INF) is 0.033026, implying that a simultaneous 10 percent increase in government expenditure and inflation improves trade balance by approximately 0.33 percent. This suggests that, in SSA, expansionary fiscal policy combined with moderate inflation can enhance trade balance performance, likely through increased domestic output, improved competitiveness, and reduced import dependence. We recommend coordinated fiscal-monetary policy frameworks that emphasize productive public spending and inflation control to strengthen external sector sustainability.
This study examined the effect of talent management practices on the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Uganda, guided by four objectives focusing on talent acquisition, talent development, performance management, and succession planning. Anchored in a positivist paradigm, the study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach using a cross-sectional survey design. Quantitative data were collected from 95 MDAs, representing a 92 percent response rate, and analyzed using Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression techniques. In contrast, qualitative data were analyzed thematically to complement the quantitative results. The regression results indicate that talent acquisition (B = 0.246, p < .01), talent development (B = 0.142, p < .01), and performance management (B = 0.414, p < .01) have positive and statistically significant effects on the performance of MDAs in Uganda, with performance management emerging as the strongest predictor. Succession planning exhibited a negative but statistically insignificant effect on MDA performance (B = ?0.003, p > .05). Overall, the model explains 37.6 percent of the variation in the performance of MDAs (Adjusted R² = .376) and is statistically significant (F = 71.657, p < .01). Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening merit-based recruitment, continuous staff development, and robust performance management systems, while redesigning succession planning frameworks to enhance their contribution to institutional performance. The study provides empirical evidence to inform human resource policy reforms aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and fiscal compliance within Uganda’s public sector MDAs.
This study examined the mediating effect of Employee Engagement on the relationship between Talent Management Practices and the Performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Uganda. Anchored in the Person–Job Fit Theory (Edwards, 1991) and Social Exchange Theory (Homans, 1958), the study adopted a quantitative research approach using a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 93 valid respondents drawn from 103 sampled MDAs, representing a 90% response rate, and analysed using ordinary least squares regression following the Baron and Kenny (1986) mediation procedure. The results revealed that Talent Management Practices had a significant positive direct effect on the Performance of MDAs (? = .545, p < .001), and also significantly predicted Employee Engagement (? = .440, p < .001). Employee Engagement, in turn, strongly and significantly predicted MDA Performance (? = .595, p < .001). When both variables were entered simultaneously, the direct effect of Talent Management Practices on performance reduced to ? = .352 (p < .001) while Employee Engagement remained significant (? = .440, p < .001), confirming partial mediation. The indirect effect through Employee Engagement (? ? .262) accounted for approximately 48% of the total effect, and the overall model explained 45.4% of the variance in MDA performance (R² = .454, N = 95). These findings indicate that Talent Management Practices improve MDA performance both directly and indirectly by fostering Employee Engagement, which serves as a critical psychological and behavioural transmission mechanism. The study recommends that MDAs adopt integrated, merit-based talent management frameworks, institutionalise employee engagement as a strategic priority, invest in transformational leadership at the supervisory level, and create enabling organisational environments that allow talent investments to translate into sustained gains in service delivery, accountability, and institutional effectiveness across Uganda's public sector.
This study examines the interaction effect of human and structural capital on graduate employability in public universities in South-Western Uganda, exploring how their combination enhances labor-market outcomes. The study adopted a positivist research paradigm with a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 377 graduates and 122 academic and administrative staff across Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kabale University, and Mountains of the Moon University using self-administered questionnaires. Human capital was measured through professional competence, social competence, employee motivation, and leadership, while structural capital comprised institutional systems, infrastructure, and culture. Graduate employability was assessed through job acquisition, employment quality, career adaptability, and entrepreneurial success. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Structural Equation Modeling, with interaction effects tested using Hayes’ Process Macro. Human and structural capital both significantly predict graduate employability, accounting for 42.7% of the variance. Inclusion of the interaction term revealed a significant multiplicative effect, indicating that human capital’s impact on employability strengthens as structural capital increases. The results confirm that neither capital alone suffices; their synergy optimizes graduate outcomes, consistent with the knowledge supply chain perspective. Universities should jointly invest in faculty expertise and institutional infrastructure, embed employability skills into curricula, and institutionalize industry partnerships. Policymakers should implement performance-based funding, revise quality assurance frameworks to emphasize employability, and promote university-industry collaboration. This study is the first to empirically test the interactive effects of human and structural capital on graduate employability in Ugandan public universities.
We investigate the interaction effect of foreign exchange rate and economic growth on the trade balance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We utilize balanced annual panel data for 20 SSA countries covering the period 2005 to 2024. We source the data from the World Development Indicators. We employ the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to address endogeneity, dynamic effects, and unobserved country-specific heterogeneity. Empirical results reveal a negative and statistically significant interaction between foreign exchange rate and GDP growth. Specifically, the estimated coefficient of the interaction term (FER*GDP) of -0.190271 implies that a simultaneous 10 percent increase in exchange rate and GDP growth is associated with a deterioration of the trade balance by approximately 1.9 percent. These findings indicate that economic growth occurring alongside exchange rate depreciation is linked to weaker trade balance outcomes, consistent with import-intensive growth structures and limited export supply responsiveness in SSA economies. These results highlight the importance of accounting for structural characteristics when assessing trade balance effects of exchange rate movements and growth dynamics.
This study assessed the influence of tax enforcement on tax compliance in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study population comprised 1,146 NRS staff members, including tax controllers, heads of divisions, tax auditors, audit officers, and tax collector officers, all of whom play a direct role in tax auditing, enforcement, and taxpayer engagement. A purposive sample of 364 staff members was drawn from this population in Southwestern Nigeria, focusing on individuals whose roles provided them with direct insights into tax audit processes. The study focused on 360 staff members of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in Southwestern Nigeria. Data for the analysis were obtained through a structured questionnaire administered to the NRS staff. Analysis was conducted using Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS). The results showed that Public Awareness and Education campaigns and Tax Rate Reduction policies, as enforcement-related strategies, had a significant positive effect on tax compliance. Legal actions, whistle-blower program and tax-amnesty instruments fail to reach significance, indicating weak or heterogeneous behavioral responses. The study concludes that enforcement strategies encompassing both persuasive/educational elements and incentive-based measures are significant drivers of improved tax compliance in the southwestern Nigerian context.
This study investigated the relationship between work team stability and quality of health care in Health Centre IVs in South Western Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design. Data were collected from healthcare workers in selected Health Centre IVs using questionnaires, key informant interviews, and document reviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis, whereas qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship between work team stability and quality of health care (r = 0.440, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further showed that work team stability significantly predicted quality of health care (? = 0.352, p = 0.003), accounting for 19.4% of the observed variation in quality of health care (R² = 0.194). The study contributes empirical evidence on the relationship between work team stability and quality of health care in public Health Centre IV facilities in Uganda. It demonstrates that workforce stability is an important organizational factor associated with improved health care quality and provides context-specific evidence to support workforce management and health policy interventions in Uganda.
The financial performance of construction companies depends significantly on their ability to manage financial risks. This study examined the effect of financial risk management on the financial performance of construction companies focusing on three dimensions: risk identification, risk assessment and evaluation, and risk management strategy. Guided by Modern Portfolio Theory, the study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 191 construction companies selected through proportionate sampling. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection and the validity and reliability of the instruments were confirmed through expert review and Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression. Findings revealed that all three financial risk management components were positively associated with financial performance. Risk identification showed a significant but modest relationship with financial performance (r = .300, p < .01), while risk assessment and evaluation exhibited the strongest association (r = .591, p < .01). Risk management strategy also demonstrated a significant positive relationship (r = .428, p < .01). Hierarchical regression results further indicated that risk assessment and evaluation contributed the largest increase in explained variance (24.9 percent), followed by risk management strategy (7.1 percent), whereas the influence of risk identification diminished after additional predictors were introduced. Overall, the models explained 42.7 percent of the variation in financial performance. The study concludes that financial risk management significantly improves financial performance, particularly when firms invest in thorough assessment and evaluation of risks and implement structured mitigation strategies. It recommends that construction firms adopt comprehensive risk management frameworks, strengthen analytical capacities and integrate proactive financial planning tools to enhance profitability, reduce exposure to uncertainty and improve long-term sustainability.
This study investigates the relationship between human capital and graduate employability in public universities in South-Western Uganda. It aims to provide empirical evidence on how university human capital influences graduates’ labor-market readiness. Guided by a positivist paradigm, a cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected from 377 graduates and 122 academic and administrative staff across three public universities. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship between human capital and graduate employability. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between human capital and graduate employability. Universities with skilled, motivated, and professionally competent staff enhance graduates’ employability by developing relevant skills and supporting processes that ensure these skills are effectively acquired. Deficiencies in human capital constrain the development of employability outcomes. University leaders should strategically invest in human capital through targeted recruitment, continuous professional development, and performance management linked to employability outcomes. Curricula should embed employer-valued skills such as critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. Strengthening institutional employability support, including career services and industry engagement, is critical for translating staff capacity into labor-market-ready graduates. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the central role of academic and administrative staff in shaping graduate employability in resource-constrained public universities. It provides context-specific evidence from Uganda, clarifying how staff competence, motivation, and leadership collectively influence labor-market outcomes.
Customer loyalty is a crucial aspect for organizations, especially in the banking sector, due to its significant financial benefits. Banks, being high-involvement service providers, maintain long-term relationships with customers, making customer satisfaction vital. While customer loyalty is a well-explored topic globally, limited research has been conducted in developing countries, particularly Uganda. This study aims to assess the influence of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in the banking industry in Mbarara City, Uganda, with Stanbic Bank's Mbarara Branch as a case study. The study's objectives include evaluating customer satisfaction and loyalty levels and determining their correlation. The methodology involved a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 50 respondents, including management, employees, and customers, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data analysis was performed using SPSS to test the correlation between satisfaction and loyalty. Findings indicated a positive relationship between service quality, trust, and long-term relationships with customer satisfaction. Similarly, trust and repeat purchases were linked to customer loyalty. Recommendations suggest banks should enhance customer follow-ups, innovate banking services, and host customer feedback events. Further studies could explore factors hindering customer satisfaction, the role of technology, and the impact of savings and credit societies on loyalty to commercial banks.
This study explores local community perspectives on how land registration frameworks influence land tenure security and contribute to land grabbing in Kayunga District. Guided by Conflict Theory, Property Theory, and Production Theory, the study analyses the interaction between formal land registration processes and customary landholding systems. The findings reveal that although land registration promotes legal recognition and improves access to financial services, it also contributes to land grabbing due to high registration fees, limited institutional accountability, and procedural gaps. Respondents perceived the process as favouring elites while marginalizing customary landowners and smallholder farmers. The study concludes that the current land registration system in Kayunga District, while offering potential for tenure security and economic empowerment, has exacerbated land-related conflicts and socio-economic inequalities due to corruption, procedural barriers, and exclusion of customary tenure systems. The study recommends integrating customary tenure into statutory law, establishing transparent and accountable governance structures, enhancing legal protections against land grabbing, and promoting community participation and legal awareness to ensure equitable and culturally appropriate land administration.
The South African government has shifted socioeconomic policy paradigms from focusing solely on attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Small and Medium Enterprises’ development since they promise to provide a base for the emergence of dynamic and efficient large-scale firms and, consequently, a more flexible and competitive domestic economy. The newly adopted KwaZulu-Natal Township and Rural Economies Revitalization Strategy (2022) is an application of the popular acclaim that Small and Medium Enterprises are engines of economic development. Therefore, there is a need for policies and strategies geared towards promoting local economic development that corresponds with the socioeconomic climate of host communities. The main objective of this paper was to explore the role of rural and township enterprises in implementing Local Economic Development in KwaZulu-Natal. The study utilised a systematic research approach in which data was gathered from journal articles, conference papers, reports, and all the relevant research material was managed. Findings indicate that Small and Medium Enterprises are a characteristic of successful economies. Despite the theoretical shift in economic policies, poverty, inequality, and unemployment plague South Africa. Rural and township areas are still behind urban areas in terms of structural capacity, technology, and economic development. This study highlights the need for the provincial government to revise policies specific to the host area because issues faced by rural economies are peculiar to township economies.
This study investigates the combined effects of trade facilitation and innovativeness on the development of cottage industries in Kampala City, Uganda. The research was motivated by the increasing relevance of cottage industries as engines of inclusive growth and the need to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability in developing economies. Anchored in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and New Institutional Economics (NIE) theories, the study conceptualizes trade facilitation and innovation as strategic and institutional enablers of firm performance. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collected from 250 cottage industry operators using stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. Results from Pearson correlation and regression analyses revealed significant and positive relationships between both trade facilitation (? = .41, p < .01) and innovativeness (? = .361, p < .01) with cottage industry development, jointly explaining 51.4% of the variation. Thematic analysis of qualitative data reinforced these findings, with participants highlighting how improved logistics, streamlined trade processes, and innovation in product development drive expansion, market access, and competitiveness. The study underscores the need for integrated policies that promote innovation ecosystems and remove institutional barriers to trade. Recommendations include investment in infrastructure, digital trade platforms, training in innovation practices, and stronger linkages between industry and support institutions to realize sustainable cottage industry growth.
‘‘Ogya’’ syndrome jargon is a synonym for international migration. The study examines the impact of Ogya syndrome on Ghana’s sustainable economic development to determine whether it has positive or negative effects on the economy. The study is grounded in Haas’ structural functionalism theory and relates the topic in practical terms, which makes this study distinct from existing research. The paper employs a literature review method, also known as a ‘meta-study’. The study’s findings reveal that Ogya syndrome enhances significant benefits to Ghana’s economic development through rewards and remittances sent into the country, Ghanaian migrants upskill themselves, and on migrants' return, they transfer knowledge acquired internationally to non-migrants. Further, migrants undertake investments, developmental projects, and entrepreneurship ventures in Ghana’s economy, which have positive impacts on economic development. The negative findings reveal brain drain, remittances’ high dependency, and social impacts (loved ones’ separation and divorce). The paper argues that good government of Ghana’s (GoG) foreign policies will attract international migrants to contribute to sustainable economic development, whereas bad foreign policies will push them away. Therefore, effective foreign policies must be developed with strategies to harness the positive effects of international migration. However, negative effects such as brain drain and dependency need management and social intervention policies to curb them. The paper recommends good governance, stewardship, probity and accountability from all institutions. Further, Ghanaian immigrants’ remittances, investments into businesses, and other developmental projects should be charged less tax to encourage Ghanaian Diaspora’s remittances flow and migrants' return to contribute to economic growth and development.
This study examines the impact of key monetary policy instruments on Uganda's lending rates over the period from 1994-2024. Specifically, it examines the impact of the Central Bank Rate (CBR), Open Market Operations (OMO), Standing Lending Facilities (SLF), and the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) on commercial lending rates. With the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) methodology, the study accommodates variables of mixed orders of integration and accounts for both short-run dynamics and long-run relationships. After overcoming multicollinearity problems, which resulted in CRR (being utilized as a proxy for demand deposits) being eliminated from the study, the study determines that CBR and the rediscount rate (being utilized as a proxy for SLF) have positive influences on lending rates in both the long run and short run. On the other hand, base money (proxy for OMO) is not statistically significant, and this reflects structural inefficiencies in the channel of passing through liquidity. Since diagnostic tests confirm the model under stability, normality of residuals, homoscedasticity, and no serial correlation, these findings confirm interest rate-based instruments in Uganda's monetary policy arsenal and simultaneously highlight indirect instrument weaknesses, such as OMO. These policy recommendations drawing from the research focus on reinforcing CBR signaling transparency, upgrading SLF mechanisms, and further deepening financial markets to improve policy transmission. This should be accompanied by further research into the wider macroeconomic effects of these instruments as well as further policy levers in Uganda's monetary framework.
Monetary policy determines the overall performance of an economy, particularly in developing countries where private investment is among the determinants of growth. Money supply, inflation, and changes in lending rates always influenced how the private sector invested in Uganda. This study aimed to examine how monetary policy influences private investment in Uganda focusing on money supply, interest rates, and inflation as the key determinants. Data for the period 1990 to 2020 were used for the study, which were secondary time series data provided by the Bank of Uganda and World Development Indicators publications. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was used to apply its application to both the short-run and long-run effects of monetary policy on private investment. The results showed that in the short run, private investment responded positively to increased money supply and inflation and negatively to higher lending rates. Although monetary policy can stimulate private investment in the short run, its effectiveness wanes in the long run unless carefully managed. This means that expansive policies can stimulate investment in the short run, but such heavy reliance could undermine the sustainability of investment. The study identifies that if Uganda could maintain an effective monetary policy, it is vital to balance encouraging private investment and maintaining macroeconomic stability. Such findings can assist in designing policies fostering sustainable private sector-driven growth.
