Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR)

The Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR) is a peer-reviewed online journal published monthly. The ISSN for the MJAAR Digital Library is ISSN: 3006-6417 (Online). MJAAR is a highly selective journal that covers a wide range of topics, catering to a broad audience interested in academic and applied research across various fields. MJAAR offers numerous advantages designed to enhance research skills and advance academic careers. Publishing in scholarly journals plays a critical role in career progression within academia. Author Benefits Specific to MJAAR Publications: Fast and Efficient Paper Publishing Process: Authors can expect a smooth and timely publication process. Indexing in Prominent Databases: MJAAR is listed in notable platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scirus, get CITED, and others. Expert Peer Review Panel: We are honoured to have a highly respected team of academic reviewers from leading universities around the world. Open Access Journal: This ensures wide visibility and promotion of your published work. MJAAR is managed by a distinguished Board of Editors and is supported by an international review board comprised of prominent academics and professionals from renowned universities, colleges, and institutions across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. To ensure the highest quality standards, all manuscripts submitted to MJAAR undergo a stringent review process, which includes blind reviews by one or more members of the international editorial review board, followed by an in-depth evaluation by MJAAR editors. We are committed to supporting our authors in excelling across all areas of academic and applied research.

Latest Articles

Browse the latest peer-reviewed publications from Metropolitan International University Journals.

ESG Disclosure, Performance And Competitive Advantage In Financial Service Firms In Nigeria

Authors: Omowunmi Jumoke Ogunleye,Akingbade Abdulbasit Abiola,Ismaila Aderemi Bello

Published on 04 May 2026

This study examined the effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure on firm performance and competitive advantage among listed financial service firms in Nigeria. Adopting an ex-post facto research design, panel data were collected from 31 firms over the period 2020–2024 and analyzed using fixed and random effects regression models. ESG disclosure was measured using environmental, social, and governance scores, while firm performance and competitive advantage were proxied by Return on Assets (ROA) and finance cost respectively.

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Digital Literacy as Institutional Imperative: Management Strategies for Higher Education Transformation in Uganda

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 02 May 2026

Digital literacy has emerged as a critical institutional imperative in higher education systems across Sub-Saharan Africa, yet its strategic integration into university management frameworks in Uganda remains inadequately theorised and empirically under-examined. This study examined the management strategies employed by Ugandan higher education institutions (HEIs) to drive digital literacy transformation, drawing on a concurrent mixed-methods design involving 348 respondents drawn from six purposively selected universities across Uganda. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using univariate descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), while qualitative insights were obtained through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, subjected to thematic analysis.

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Uganda's Fertility Paradox: Capitalizing on Demographic Potential Amidst Systemic Health and Socioeconomic Challenges

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius2 , Musimenta Nancy2

Published on 02 May 2026

Background: Uganda maintains one of the world's highest total fertility rates (TFR) at 5. 4 children per woman, presenting a paradox of significant demographic potential juxtaposed against persistent maternal mortality, limited contraceptive uptake, and deep socioeconomic inequalities. This study examined the determinants of Uganda's high fertility, the pathways through which socioeconomic and health system factors influence reproductive behavior, and the extent to which high fertility can be channeled into productive demographic dividends.

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Digital Credit Expansion as Compensatory Financial Infrastructure: Analyzing MTN Uganda's 66.7% Loan Growth and National Development Implications

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 02 May 2026

This study examined digital credit expansion as a form of compensatory financial infrastructure, with specific focus on MTN Uganda's Mobile Money (MoMo) loan portfolio, which recorded a 66. 7% growth between 2021 and 2023. Operating within the theoretical framework of financial intermediation and digital financial services, the study investigated how this unprecedented credit surge influenced financial inclusion, household income levels, and macroeconomic growth in Uganda.

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Interconnected Voids: Internet Accessibility and Digital Credit as Compensatory Systems in Uganda's Digital Economy

Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara1 , Musimenta Nancy2

Published on 02 May 2026

Uganda's rapid digital economy expansion has unfolded against a backdrop of persistent structural inequalities, creating bifurcated digital landscapes in which some segments of the population leverage converging technologies for financial empowerment while others remain excluded from fundamental connectivity. This study examined the intersecting roles of internet accessibility and digital credit adoption as compensatory systems within Uganda's digital economy, using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design administered to 500 purposively and randomly selected respondents across urban, peri-urban, and rural settings in Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western Uganda. Quantitative data were analysed through univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and a full Structural Equation Model (SEM) estimated in Stata 19 using the gsem command.

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Duopolistic Compensation: A Comparative Analysis of MTN and Airtel Digital Credit Portfolios in Uganda's Expanding Borrower Market

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 02 May 2026

Uganda's digital credit market is dominated by two mobile network operators — MTN Uganda (MoMo Loans) and Airtel Uganda (Okoa) — whose overlapping yet structurally differentiated loan portfolios collectively serve more than 1. 3 million active borrowers. This mixed-methods study examined the composition, uptake determinants, and default risk profiles of digital loan portfolios offered by these two providers, using data collected from 1,240 active borrowers across five districts in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area and a purposive sub-sample of 60 in-depth interview respondents.

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The Naked Transaction: Age-Discrepant Marriage as Compensatory Exchange and Strategic Inheritance Planning. A Narrative Analysis

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Musimenta Nancy2

Published on 02 May 2026

Age-discrepant marriage a union in which spouses are separated by ten or more years — remains prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa, yet its economic architecture and inheritance implications are insufficiently theorised in demographic literature. This study, framed within compensatory exchange theory and the political economy of marriage, examined the structural conditions that drive age-discrepant unions in Uganda, the mechanisms by which bride price functions as a wealth-transfer instrument, and the inheritance outcomes accruing to women embedded in such arrangements. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 600 ever-married women aged 18–49 in three purposively selected districts (Mbale, Mbarara, and Gulu), while 32 in-depth narrative interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with purposively sampled participants.

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The Double Burden: Human and Material Resource Scarcity in Uganda's Nursing and Midwifery Workforce

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 02 May 2026

Background: Uganda faces a compounding health workforce crisis characterised by a dual scarcity of both human capital and material resources within its nursing and midwifery sector. The country's nurse-to-population ratio remains critically below the World Health Organization recommended threshold of 10 per 10,000, with disparities most acute in rural and peri-urban health facilities across the Northern, Eastern, and South-Western regions. Objective: This study sought to assess the magnitude of human and material resource scarcity among nursing and midwifery professionals in Uganda, identify multilevel determinants driving workforce attrition, and examine how equipment deficits compound service delivery failures at the frontline of care.

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Gendered Financial Governance: Salary Handover as Compensatory Strategy in Household Economics and the Politics of Planning

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 02 May 2026

This study examined gendered financial governance with a specific focus on salary handover practices as compensatory strategies within household economics and their implications for financial planning. Situated within the broader discourse of intra-household resource allocation and gender power dynamics, the study employed a mixedmethods research design with a cross-sectional survey administered to 300 purposively selected respondents from urban and peri-urban households in Uganda, complemented by 20 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions. Quantitatively, univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to characterise the sociodemographic profile of respondents and examine gender-disaggregated salary handover behaviour.

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From Deathtraps to Nourishment: Adapting Japan’s School Lunch Model as a Compensatory System for Uganda’s Child Nutrition Crisis

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Musimenta Nancy2

Published on 02 May 2026

Background: Uganda's child malnutrition crisis remains one of sub-Saharan Africa's most persistent public health emergencies, with approximately 29% of children under five experiencing stunting, 4% wasting, and 11% underweight. School feeding programmes have globally been recognised as effective compensatory mechanisms, yet Uganda lacks a structured, nutrition-focused school lunch model comparable to Japan's renowned Kyushoku system, which has virtually eliminated school-age malnutrition since its formalisation in 1954. Objective: This study assessed the feasibility, potential impact, and structural adaptations required to implement a Japan-inspired school lunch model as a compensatory nutrition system for Uganda's primary school children.

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