While plastic waste has become a more frequent occurrence on the rural landscape in sub-Saharan Africa, studies on the management of plastic waste have focused largely on urban and peri-urban areas, ignoring forest-adjacent communities. This study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics, plastic waste management practices and challenges among households in five communities bordering Gambari Forest Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria: Idi Ayunre, Onipe, Onigambari, Ibusogboro and Olonde. The study employed a multistage sampling procedure to select 120 households, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire through interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson product moment correlation. Results indicated that the majority of the sample was women (55.8%) and married respondents (83.3%), with most respondents being between 41 and 50 years old and having at least secondary education. Most respondents engaged in waste management practices such as encouraging children not to litter (73.3%) and reporting dumping to community leaders (73.3%), but formal recycling and use of reusable alternatives were moderate, with 56.7% of respondents classified in the low-practice group. The most common challenges were lack of designated collection points (57.5%), limited access to recycling facilities (40.0%) and inadequate knowledge of proper disposal methods (40.0%), with 63.3% of respondents falling into the highconstraint category. There was a positive correlation between challenges faced and methods adopted for plastic waste management (r = 0.421, p = 0.000). The results suggest that infrastructural and awareness gaps, rather than unwillingness, are the main drivers of ineffective plastic waste management in these communities.

This study examines the relationship between branding and organisational performance among telecommunications companies in Uganda, using MTN Uganda as a case study. Branding has increasingly become a strategic tool through which telecommunication firms differentiate themselves in a highly competitive and commoditized market. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the brand elements applied by MTN Uganda, to examine the levels of organisational performance at MTN Uganda, and to establish the relationship between branding and organisational performance. A cross-sectional survey design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches is recommended, targeting employees and customers of MTN Uganda. Data would be analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results section of this report presents an illustrative template using simulated placeholder data clearly labelled as such showing how descriptive, correlation, and regression tables should be constructed and interpreted once real field data is collected. The study is expected to establish that strong branding (brand awareness, brand image, brand loyalty, and brand equity) is positively associated with organisational performance indicators such as customer retention, revenue growth, and market share. The report concludes with recommendations for telecommunications firms on strengthening brand strategy to enhance performance. Key Words: Branding, Brand Equity, Brand Image, Brand Loyalty, Organisational Performance, Telecommunications, MTN Uganda 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Branding has evolved from a peripheral marketing activity into a central strategic asset that shapes how firms compete, communicate value, and build long-term relationships with customers(Kazaara & Kazaara, 2023). In the global telecommunications sector, where products and services are largely homogeneous voice, data, and mobile money

This study examines the effect of citification-the elevation of a municipality to city status and the accompanying administrative, infrastructural, and institutional restructuring on service delivery, using West Division, Lira City as a case study. Lira attained city status in 2020, a transition that reorganized local governance structures, expanded revenue mandates, and raised citizen expectations for improved services. The study is guided by three objectives: to examine the administrative and institutional changes brought about by citification in West Division, to assess the level of service delivery in West Division since attaining city status, and to establish the relationship between citification and service delivery. A cross-sectional survey design is proposed, targeting residents, local council leaders, and city technical staff in West Division. Data would be analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. This report presents an illustrative results template using clearly labelled simulated data showing the expected structure and interpretation of descriptive, correlation, and regression tables. The study anticipates finding that citification dimensions (institutional capacity, revenue mobilisation, and infrastructural investment) are positively associated with service delivery outcomes such as waste management, road maintenance, and health and sanitation services, and concludes with recommendations for Lira City Council and national urban policy. Key Words: Citification, Urbanisation, Service Delivery, Local Government, Lira City, West Division, Decentralisation 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Citification refers to the formal process by which a municipality or town council is elevated to city status, typically accompanied by expanded administrative structures, new revenue-raising powers, and heightened expectations of service delivery befitting urban status (UN-Habitat, 2020). In many African contexts, urbanisation has outpaced the

This study examined the relationship between digitalisation and the performance of microfinance institutions, using Kyebando SACCO as a case study. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the level of digitalisation adopted by Kyebando SACCO, to establish the level of organisational performance, and to determine the statistical relationship between the two variables. A descriptive cross-sectional and correlational design was adopted, targeting a population of 150 staff and members, from which a sample of 110 respondents was drawn using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) table and stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analysed using SPSS through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression. The findings revealed a high level of digitalisation (M = 3.83) and a high level of overall performance (M = 3.69) at Kyebando SACCO, with a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation between digitalisation and performance (r = 0.612, p < 0.01). Regression analysis showed that digitalisation significantly predicts performance (β = 0.573, p < 0.01), explaining 37.5% of the variance in performance (R² = 0.375). The study concludes that digitalisation is a key driver of SACCO performance and recommends increased investment in secure digital infrastructure, digital literacy training, and a phased digitalisation roadmap linked to measurable performance targets.

This study investigates the effect of e-commerce adoption on the retail performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nansana Municipality, Uganda. Growing internet and smartphone penetration, coupled with the expansion of mobile money and social-media-based commerce, has created new opportunities for SME retailers to reach customers beyond their physical premises. Yet adoption of formal e-commerce practices among SMEs in peri-urban municipalities such as Nansana remains inconsistent. The study is guided by three objectives: to establish the level of e-commerce adoption among SME retailers in Nansana, to assess the level of retail performance among these SMEs, and to establish the relationship between e-commerce adoption and retail performance. A cross-sectional survey design is proposed, targeting owners and managers of registered retail SMEs in Nansana Municipality. 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 is anticipated to find a positive relationship between e- commerce adoption dimensions (online presence, digital payment integration, and online customer engagement) and retail performance indicators such as sales volume, customer base growth, and profitability, and concludes with recommendations for SME retailers and policymakers. Key Words: E-commerce Adoption, Retail Performance, SMEs, Digital Payments, Online Presence, Nansana Municipality, Uganda 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Electronic commerce (e-commerce) refers to the buying and selling of goods and services, or the transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily the internet (Laudon & Traver, 2021). Globally, the proliferation of

This study examined the effect of early neglect on cognitive functioning among children in orphanages in Wakiso District, Uganda. Grounded in evidence that early experiences shape brain development, the study investigated how dimensions of early neglect—emotional neglect, cognitive and educational neglect, physical and nutritional neglect, and lack of stable caregiving—relate to children's cognitive functioning. A cross-sectional survey design with a mixed- methods approach was adopted, and data were collected from 160 respondents comprising caregivers, orphanage administrators, and teachers who reported on 160 children, using structured questionnaires, standardised assessment indicators, and interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used for analysis. The results revealed a strong negative and significant relationship between early neglect and cognitive functioning (r = -0.66, p < 0.01), with the dimensions of neglect jointly explaining 51.1% of the variance in cognitive functioning (R² = 0.511). Cognitive and educational neglect and lack of stable caregiving were the strongest predictors. The study concludes that early neglect significantly impairs children's cognitive functioning and recommends stable caregiving, stimulation-rich environments, and early intervention. This is a sensitive topic; where children's welfare is a concern, professional support should be sought.

This study examined the effect of financial management practices on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kampala Central Business District, Uganda. Given the critical role of SMEs in employment and economic growth and their high failure rates, the study investigated how working capital management, financial record-keeping, budgeting, and access to finance affect business performance measured in terms of profitability, sales growth, and survival. A descriptive and explanatory cross-sectional design with a mixed-methods approach was adopted, and data were collected from 150 SME owners and managers using structured questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used for analysis. The results revealed a strong positive and significant relationship between financial management practices and SME performance (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), with the practices jointly explaining 51.4% of the variance in performance (R² = 0.514). Working capital management and financial record-keeping were the strongest predictors. The study concludes that sound financial management practices significantly enhance SME performance and recommends training, adoption of proper record-keeping, and improved access to finance.

This study investigated the effect of mobile banking services on the financial performance of commercial banks in Uganda, using Centenary Bank, Kampala Branch, as a case study. The rapid adoption of mobile technology has transformed banking service delivery, and this study sought to determine how mobile banking dimensions— transaction volume, service accessibility, cost efficiency, and customer adoption—affect key financial performance indicators such as return on assets, net income, and cost-to-income ratio. A descriptive and explanatory research design was adopted, and data were collected from 120 respondents comprising bank staff and customers using structured questionnaires, supplemented by secondary financial data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used for analysis. The findings revealed a strong positive and significant relationship between mobile banking services and financial performance (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), with mobile banking explaining 52.3% of the variance in financial performance (R² = 0.523). Transaction volume and cost efficiency were the strongest predictors. The study concludes that mobile banking significantly enhances bank profitability and operational efficiency and recommends continued investment in mobile platforms, cybersecurity, and customer financial literacy.

This study examined the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration in the new lower- secondary curriculum on students' education in selected schools in Luwero District, Uganda. With Uganda's competency-based curriculum emphasising ICT as both a subject and a tool for learning, the study investigated how ICT infrastructure, teacher ICT competence, digital learning resources, and ICT accessibility relate to students' learning outcomes and engagement. A cross-sectional survey design with a mixed-methods approach was adopted, and data were collected from 190 respondents comprising teachers, students, and head teachers using questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used for analysis. The results revealed a strong positive and significant relationship between ICT integration and students' education (r = 0.65, p < 0.01), with ICT dimensions jointly explaining 50.2% of the variance in learning outcomes (R² = 0.502). Teacher ICT competence and digital learning resources were the strongest predictors. The study concludes that effective ICT integration significantly enhances students' education under the new curriculum and recommends teacher training, provision of digital resources, and improved infrastructure.

This study examined the influence of school leadership on academic performance in government secondary schools in Mbarara District, Uganda. Recognising that the head teacher's leadership is a pivotal determinant of school effectiveness, the study investigated how instructional leadership, participative decision-making, supervision and monitoring, and resource management relate to students' academic performance. A descriptive cross-sectional design with a mixed-methods approach was used, and data were gathered from 180 respondents comprising head teachers, teachers, and members of school management committees through questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were employed for analysis. The results showed a strong positive and significant relationship between school leadership and academic performance (r = 0.65, p < 0.01), with leadership dimensions jointly accounting for 50.7% of the variance in performance (R² = 0.507). Instructional leadership and supervision emerged as the strongest predictors. The study concludes that effective school leadership is central to improving academic performance and recommends strengthening the instructional and supervisory capacity of head teachers.