Public procurement transparency is the principal safeguard against the diversion of public resources, yet the effectiveness of regulatory oversight in securing it remains contested even where the legal framework is robust. This study examined the effectiveness of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority in promoting procurement transparency at the Kampala Capital City Authority. Adopting a positivist philosophy and a cross- sectional survey design, data were collected from 186 respondents drawn through stratified random sampling from a target population of 264 comprising KCCA procurement and disposal unit staff, contracts committee members, user department heads, accounting and internal audit personnel, evaluation committee members, and registered providers. A structured questionnaire measured four PPDA effectiveness dimensions, namely regulatory framework and guidance, procurement audit and compliance monitoring, electronic government procurement implementation, and enforcement and sanctions, against procurement transparency assessed through information disclosure, competitive access, process integrity, and accountability to stakeholders. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that regulatory framework recorded the highest mean while enforcement and sanctions recorded the lowest. All four dimensions correlated significantly and positively with procurement transparency, with electronic government procurement implementation strongest (r = 0.693, p < 0.01), followed by procurement audit and compliance monitoring (r = 0.647, p < 0.01), enforcement and sanctions (r = 0.582, p < 0.01), and regulatory framework and guidance (r = 0.498, p < 0.01). The regression model was significant, F(4, 176) = 59.31, p < 0.001, explaining 57.4 per cent of variance. The findings address the MAPS Assessment finding that less than fifty per cent of key procurement information is published and that procurement data collection is weak (MAPS Initiative, 2023), and the observation that PPDA's regulatory role may conflict with its audit role (MAPS Initiative, 2023). The study concludes that digital systems rather than rule promulgation drive

This study examined the effectiveness of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) in promoting transparency in procurement processes at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). Public procurement in Uganda consumes a substantial share of the national budget, and the transparency of procurement is central to value for money and public trust. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the extent to which PPDA regulatory mechanisms enhance procurement transparency at KCCA; to examine the role of compliance and audit functions in curbing procurement malpractice; and to establish the relationship between PPDA oversight and transparency outcomes. A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from a sample of 132 respondents drawn from procurement officers, user departments, contracts committee members, and providers using structured questionnaires and key-informant interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between PPDA oversight and procurement transparency (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), with regulatory mechanisms (β = 0.41) and compliance/audit functions (β = 0.33) jointly explaining 54% of the variation in transparency outcomes. The study concluded that PPDA has been moderately effective, with capacity, enforcement delays, and political interference constraining full effectiveness. It recommended strengthening real-time monitoring, e-procurement adoption, and sanctions enforcement.

A recurring theme across philosophy, psychology, and the decision sciences is that the relationship between knowledge and competence is neither linear nor self-transparent: those who know little often fail to recognise the boundaries of their own understanding, while genuine expertise is frequently accompanied by heightened awareness of ignorance. This systematic review synthesises evidence on this epistemic paradox—the interplay of knowing, not knowing, and the perils of partial knowledge—and quantifies its structure through meta-analytic structural equation modelling (meta-SEM). Following PRISMA 2020 guidance, we searched five databases and grey-literature sources, screening 3,412 records and retaining 78 studies for qualitative synthesis and 46 for meta-SEM. Thematic synthesis identified four recurrent constructs: objective knowledge, metacognitive accuracy (self-knowledge of one's knowing), epistemic overconfidence, and decision quality. A pooled correlation matrix (Ntotal = 21,640) was synthesised and fitted with a structural model. The measurement model achieved acceptable fit (CFI = 0.961, TLI = 0.949, RMSEA = 0.046, SRMR = 0.041). The structural model showed that objective knowledge positively predicted metacognitive accuracy (β = 0.42, p < .001) and negatively predicted overconfidence (β = -0.38, p < .001); metacognitive accuracy positively predicted decision quality (β = 0.34, p < .001); and overconfidence negatively predicted decision quality (β = -0.29, p < .001). A curvilinear specification supported a 'little knowledge' peril: overconfidence was highest at low- to-moderate knowledge and declined at high knowledge. The model explained substantial variance in decision quality (R² = 0.47). We conclude that partial knowledge is distinctively hazardous because it raises confidence faster than competence, and that metacognitive calibration mediates the knowledge–decision relationship. Implications for education, professional training, and epistemic humility are discussed.

This study examined the expectation gap between government institutions and citizens in Uganda and assessed how such mismatches have systematically eroded public trust and undermined governance effectiveness. Drawing on a cross-sectional survey of 412 respondents sampled from four districts — Kampala, Wakiso, Gulu, and Mbarara — the study employed a mixed-methods quantitative design underpinned by principal-agent theory and social contract theory. Univariate analysis revealed that 71.8% of respondents perceived a significant gap between what government promised and what was delivered, with only 28.2% expressing satisfaction with public service outcomes. Bivariate correlation analysis demonstrated statistically significant negative relationships between the expectation gap and trust in government institutions (r = -0.623, p < 0.001), citizen engagement (r = -0.541, p < 0.001), and perceived governance quality (r = -0.587, p < 0.001). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) confirmed that the expectation gap directly reduced trust (β = -0.48, p < 0.001), which in turn diminished citizen participation (β = -0.39, p < 0.001) and perceived service delivery quality (β = -0.42, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 54.3% of variance in governance outcomes. Key drivers of the expectation gap included poor communication of government plans (M = 4.31/5.00), inconsistency in policy implementation (M = 4.18/5.00), and absence of accountability mechanisms (M = 4.05/5.00). The study concluded that bridging the expectation gap requires deliberate institutional reforms, transparent communication strategies, and robust citizen feedback mechanisms. It recommended that the Government of Uganda institutionalise participatory policy formulation processes, strengthen independent oversight bodies, and invest in civic education to calibrate citizen expectations to realistic governance capabilities.

This study examines the impact of advertising on consumer purchasing behaviour among customers of retail shops in Kikuubo, one of Kampala's busiest wholesale and retail trading hubs. Advertising remains a central tool through which Kikuubo retailers seek to attract and retain customers in an intensely competitive, price-sensitive trading environment. The study is guided by three objectives: to assess the advertising methods used by Kikuubo retail shops, to examine the level of consumer purchasing behaviour among Kikuubo shoppers, and to establish the relationship between advertising and consumer purchasing behaviour. A cross-sectional survey design is proposed, targeting consumers shopping at Kikuubo retail outlets. Data would be analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. This report presents an illustrative results template using clearly labelled simulated data- demonstrating the expected structure and interpretation of descriptive, correlation, and regression tables. The study anticipates finding that advertising dimensions (informational content, persuasive appeal, and advertising frequency/reach) are positively associated with consumer purchasing behaviour outcomes such as purchase intention, brand switching, and repeat purchase, and concludes with recommendations for Kikuubo retailers and marketing practitioners. Key Words: Advertising, Consumer Purchasing Behaviour, Retail, Kikuubo, Kampala, Purchase Intention 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Advertising is defined by Kotler and Armstrong (2018) as any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods, or services by an identified sponsor, aimed at informing, persuading, or reminding target audiences. The Hierarchy-of-Effects model developed by Lavidge and Steiner (1961) proposes that advertising moves consumers through a sequence of cognitive, affective, and behavioural stages-awareness, knowledge, liking, preference,

Artificial intelligence is reshaping labour markets globally, yet its consequences for youth employment in low-income African economies remain contested between displacement and augmentation accounts. This study examined the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market among youths in Lubaga Division, Kampala. Adopting a positivist philosophy and a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected through enumerator administration from 384 youths aged 18 to 30 selected via multistage sampling across the division's parishes. A structured questionnaire measured four artificial intelligence dimensions, namely task exposure and automation risk, AI skills acquisition and digital literacy, access to AI-enabled work platforms, and AI awareness and adoption in the workplace, against job market outcomes assessed through employment status and security, earnings, skills relevance, and perceived future prospects. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that AI awareness recorded the highest mean while AI skills acquisition recorded the lowest. Task exposure correlated negatively with job market outcomes (r = −0.548, p < 0.01) while the three capability dimensions correlated positively, with AI skills acquisition strongest (r = 0.673, p < 0.01), followed by access to AI- enabled platforms (r = 0.612, p < 0.01) and workplace adoption (r = 0.529, p < 0.01). The regression model was significant, F(4, 366) = 74.16, p < 0.001, explaining 44.8 per cent of variance, with AI skills acquisition (β = 0.348) dominant. The findings situate within evidence that 50.9 per cent of Ugandan youth are neither employed nor pursuing education and that national unemployment rose from 9.4 per cent in 2014 to 12.6 per cent in 2024 (EPRC, 2024), and corroborate the augmentation account whereby workers with AI expertise command wage premiums of up to 56 per cent (PwC, 2024, cited in AfriCatalyst, 2025). The study concludes that AI's youth labour market impact operates principally through the skills divide rather than through displacement, and recommends AI skilling integration, platform access expansion, and adoption of the complementarity principle articulated in Uganda's international labour

This study examined the influence of social media platforms on consumer travel preferences and destination choices, using Fort Portal City, Uganda, as a case study. Social media has emerged as a dominant source of travel inspiration and information globally, yet its specific influence within Uganda's rapidly growing domestic and regional tourism market remains under-researched. The study was guided by three specific objectives: to examine the extent of social media usage for travel-related information among consumers, to assess consumer travel preferences and destination choice patterns, and to establish the relationship between social media platform usage and destination choice for Fort Portal City. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, targeting a population of approximately 260 tourists and visitors accessing selected tourism sites and facilities within Fort Portal City. A sample size of 155 respondents was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table and convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression. The findings revealed that Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok were the most widely used platforms for travel-related content among respondents, with a mean overall social media influence score of 3.62 (high). A strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship was found between social media platform usage and destination choice (r = 0.588, p < 0.01), with social media usage explaining 34.6% of the variance in destination choice (R² = 0.346, F(1,153) = 80.94, p < 0.001). The study concludes that social media platforms significantly shape consumer destination choices in favour of Fort Portal City and recommends that tourism stakeholders intensify strategic, visually engaging social media marketing campaigns, including influencer partnerships and user-generated content promotion.

Uganda records one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in Africa, yet the consequences of substance abuse for the family as a functioning social unit remain comparatively underexamined relative to its individual health effects. This study examined the influence of substance abuse on family functioning in Kyazanga Town Council, Lwengo District. Adopting a positivist philosophy and a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected through enumerator administration from 278 adult household members selected via multistage sampling from households in the town council. A structured questionnaire measured four substance abuse dimensions, namely frequency and quantity of use, expenditure diversion, intoxication-related behaviour, and duration and chronicity of use, against family functioning assessed through communication, role performance, affective involvement, and behaviour control. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that frequency and quantity of use recorded the highest mean while duration and chronicity recorded the lowest. All four dimensions correlated significantly and negatively with family functioning, with expenditure diversion strongest (r = −0.706, p < 0.01), followed by intoxication-related behaviour (r = −0.658, p < 0.01), frequency and quantity (r = −0.579, p < 0.01), and duration and chronicity (r = −0.512, p < 0.01). The regression model was significant, F(4, 265) = 68.41, p < 0.001, explaining 50.8 per cent of variance in family functioning, with expenditure diversion (β = −0.331) and intoxication-related behaviour (β = −0.287) the dominant predictors. The findings situate within a literature documenting that alcohol use in Uganda is socially accepted and consequently under-reported (Ssebunnya et al., 2020), that problem drinking is associated with physical intimate partner violence (Tumwesigye et al., 2012), and that adverse childhood experiences predict later heavy consumption (Satinsky et al., 2022), suggesting an intergenerational transmission pathway. The study concludes that the mechanism of family harm is economic and behavioural rather than merely medical, and recommends household-level economic protection, integration of brief intervention into

This study examines the role of organic farming practices in enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Kirewa Sub County, Tororo District, Uganda. Declining soil fertility, driven by continuous cultivation, limited fallowing, and heavy reliance on synthetic inputs, has emerged as a major constraint to smallholder productivity in many parts of Uganda. Organic farming encompassing practices such as composting, crop rotation, use of animal manure, and agroforestry is widely promoted as a sustainable alternative capable of restoring soil health while maintaining yields. The study is guided by three objectives: to assess the level of organic farming practice adoption among smallholder farmers in Kirewa Sub County, to examine the level of soil fertility and crop productivity in the sub-county, and to establish the relationship between organic farming practices and soil fertility/crop productivity outcomes. A cross-sectional survey design is proposed, targeting smallholder farming households in Kirewa Sub County. Data would be analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. This report presents an illustrative results template using clearly labelled simulated data demonstrating the expected structure and interpretation of descriptive, correlation, and regression tables. The study concludes with recommendations for farmers, extension services, and agricultural policymakers. Key Words: Organic Farming, Soil Fertility, Crop Productivity, Smallholder Farmers, Sustainable Agriculture, Kirewa Sub County, Tororo 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Soil fertility decline is one of the most pressing challenges facing smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by continuous cultivation without adequate replenishment of soil nutrients, reduced fallow periods due to population pressure on land, and, in many cases, unsustainable use of synthetic fertilisers that can degrade soil

Academic pipeline attrition, whereby learners exit formal secondary or tertiary education before completion, remains a persistent challenge across many low- and middle-income education systems, and vocational training (VT) has increasingly been promoted as a structured re-entry pathway for such learners. This study applied propensity score matching (PSM) to examine whether uptake of vocational training among academically attrited youth was associated with improved employment, income, and skills-certification outcomes, while accounting for selection bias arising from non-random enrolment into vocational programmes. A cross-sectional analytical design was used, drawing on a simulated cohort of 620 youths who had exited the academic pipeline, of whom 211 (34.0%) subsequently enrolled in vocational training. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to estimate propensity scores from ten baseline covariates, followed by 1:1 nearest-neighbour matching without replacement within a 0.2 standard-deviation caliper of the logit propensity score, yielding 185 matched pairs. Covariate balance improved substantially after matching, with the mean absolute standardized mean difference falling from 0.163 to 0.040. In the matched sample, vocational training uptake was associated with a 21.1 percentage-point increase in twelve-month employment (95% CI: 11.1 to 31.0; p<0.001), a 37.8 percentage-point increase in skills-certification attainment (95% CI: 28.4 to 47.3; p<0.001), and a mean monthly income advantage of UGX 91,100 (95% CI: 78,100 to 104,200; p<0.001). Regression-adjusted estimates within the matched sample corroborated these findings, and Rosenbaum bounds sensitivity analysis indicated that the employment and income effects would remain significant unless an unmeasured confounder increased the odds of treatment assignment by more than 72% and 97% respectively, suggesting reasonable robustness to hidden bias. The study concluded that vocational training uptake functioned as an effective structured re-entry mechanism for academically attrited youth, meaningfully improving labour- market outcomes even after adjustment for observed and, plausibly, moderate unobserved confounding. The findings support strengthening referral linkages between academic institutions and vocational training providers as a policy