The study investigated the effect of cost management on profitability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in
Butiiti Sub-County, Kyenjojo District, Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed with a
sample of 227 SME owners and managers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through
correlation and regression techniques. Results indicated a significant positive effect of cost management on
profitability (r=0.721, p

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) constituted the backbone of economic development in developing countries,
yet access to long-term financing remained a critical constraint to their growth and sustainability. In Kabale
Municipality, SMEs faced persistent financial performance challenges despite increasing availability of long-term
loan products from microfinance institutions and commercial banks. Understanding how long-term loans impacted
financial performance was essential for informing financing strategies and policy interventions to support SME
development. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods approach. A sample of 120
SME owners/managers was selected from 287 registered SMEs in Kabale Municipality using stratified random
sampling based on business sectors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews.
Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and
multiple regression analysis. Financial performance was measured using profitability ratios, revenue growth, and asset
expansion. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis to provide contextual insights. The findings revealed a
significant positive relationship between long-term loans and SME financial performance (r=0.694, p

This study examined the impact of political patronage on service delivery in Uganda's local government system. A
cross-sectional research design was employed with a sample of 187 respondents comprising local government
officials, civil servants, and community members. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed
using descriptive and inferential statistics, including structural equation modeling (SEM). Results revealed that 76.5%
of respondents confirmed the existence of political patronage in resource allocation, with 81.3% reporting that it
negatively affected service delivery quality. The structural model demonstrated significant negative paths from
political patronage to service delivery efficiency (β = -0.68, p

The study examined the impact of traditional male circumcision practices on school attendance among
adolescent boys in Buyinja Sub-County, Uganda, through the lens of Social Learning Theory. Using a mixedmethods approach, data were collected from 187 respondents comprising students, parents, teachers, and
cultural leaders. Results indicated that 73.8% of circumcised boys missed school for extended periods averaging
28 days, with 64.2% reporting diminished academic performance post-circumcision. Statistical analysis revealed
a significant negative relationship (r=-0.658, p

This study examined the influence of student engagement on learning experience among graduate students at Makerere
University Business School. A sample of 73 graduate students participated in the study. Results revealed a strong
positive correlation (r=0.812, p

The study examined the influence of teaching quality on learning experience among graduate students at Makerere
University Business School. A sample of 73 graduate students participated in the study. Results revealed a strong
positive correlation (r=0.846, p

The study examines the relationship between revenue generation and urban development in local government
authorities in Uganda, using Kisoro Municipality as a case study. Anchored in Fiscal Decentralization Theory and
second-generation fiscal federalism, the study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. Quantitative
data were collected from 116 respondents comprising municipal officials, revenue officers, and registered business
owners, while qualitative data were obtained through key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings reveal statistically
significant positive relationships between local revenue sources (r = .588, p < .001), revenue collection efficiency (r
= .621, p < .001), and revenue utilization and accountability (r = .714, p < .001) with urban development. Revenue
utilization and accountability emerged as the strongest predictor, explaining 51.0% of the variance in urban
development outcomes. The study concludes that strengthening accountability and transparency in revenue
utilization is more critical to urban development than merely expanding revenue sources. Policy recommendations
emphasize institutional accountability, modernization of revenue systems, and diversification of municipal revenue
bases.

The external business environment significantly influences pricing strategies and effectiveness in the logistics
industry. This study examined the relationship between external business environment factors and effective pricing
among clearing and forwarding logistics enterprises operating in Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda. The study
employed a cross-sectional survey design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 186
respondents comprising business owners, managers, and operations staff from 62 clearing and forwarding enterprises
was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and key
informant interviews. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression
analysis using SPSS version 26.The study revealed a significant positive relationship (r = 0.741, p < 0.01) between
external business environment and effective pricing among clearing and forwarding enterprises. Competitive intensity
showed the strongest correlation with pricing effectiveness (r = 0.798, p < 0.01). Regulatory environment correlated
significantly with pricing flexibility (r = 0.724, p < 0.01). Economic conditions demonstrated a moderate positive
correlation with pricing profitability (r = 0.653, p < 0.05). Technological changes correlated with pricing efficiency (r
= 0.687, p < 0.01). The regression model explained 69.7% of variance in pricing effectiveness (R² = 0.697). Over
73.1% of enterprises reported that external environmental factors significantly constrained their pricing autonomy.
The external business environment significantly influenced pricing effectiveness among clearing and forwarding
enterprises in Nakawa Division. Competitive dynamics, regulatory frameworks, economic conditions, and
technological evolution collectively shaped pricing strategies and outcomes. Enterprises that effectively monitored
and adapted to external environmental changes achieved superior pricing effectiveness and business performance.
Clearing and forwarding enterprises should establish environmental scanning systems to continuously monitor
external factors affecting pricing decisions. Industry associations should engage regulatory authorities to advocate for
favorable policies supporting competitive pricing frameworks. Enterprises should invest in pricing analytics
technologies and develop flexible pricing models that respond dynamically to environmental changes.

Political decentralization is theorized to enhance social development by improving governance responsiveness, yet
empirical evidence at the sub-county level in Uganda remains mixed. This study investigated the disaggregated
impact of three political decentralization constructs citizen participation, local accountability, and decision-making
transparency on three core social development outcomes: access to education, healthcare, and clean water. A crosssectional survey design was employed, collecting primary data from a stratified random sample of 212 local
government officials and political leaders in Wakiso District between May and July 2025. Data were analysed using
descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression in SPSS. Results revealed significant positive
relationships for all hypothesized paths: citizen participation predicted access to education (β = .65, p < .001, R² =
.423); local accountability predicted access to healthcare (β = .61, p < .001, R² = .372); and transparency predicted
access to water and sanitation (β = .68, p < .001, R² = .462). The study concludes that the specific mechanisms of
political decentralization are distinct and powerful drivers of discrete social development outcomes. It recommends
tailored governance reforms that strengthen participatory forums, accountability channels, and transparent decisionmaking processes to improve local service delivery.

Teacher motivation remained central to understanding teacher effectiveness and educational quality,
particularly in developing contexts. Rural secondary schools in Uganda face challenges such as limited
resources, difficult working conditions, and inconsistent incentives, all of which affect teacher performance.
While intrinsic and extrinsic motivation have traditionally been emphasized, evidence from a mixed-methods
study in Kisoro District shows that professional development motivation is the strongest predictor of teacher
service delivery. Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, the study finds
that teachers engaged in continuous learning demonstrate higher instructional competence, effective
classroom management, lesson preparation, assessment quality, and professional commitment. Quantitative
analysis reveals a strong positive correlation between professional development motivation and service
delivery, while qualitative interviews indicate that teachers view professional development as a pathway to
career advancement, confidence, and adaptation to pedagogical demands. The findings underscore the need
to strengthen professional development structures in rural districts to enhance teacher performance and
improve learning outcomes.