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.

Discipline as the Art of Self-Control: Where Does This Leave STEM? A Case Study of Uganda's STEM Education Policy

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Musiimenta Nancy2 , Akampurira Sarah3

Published on 04 Jun 2026

This study examined the relationship between discipline as a form of self-control and STEM academic performance among secondary school students in Uganda, with specific reference to the national STEM Education Policy. Grounded in self-determination theory and Vygotsky's socio-cultural framework, the study sought to determine how student self-control, discipline, and school-level policy exposure collectively influenced STEM outcomes across different school types and geographic settings. A cross-sectional, mixed-methods design was employed, drawing on a stratified random sample of 1,200 students from 60 secondary schools across Uganda's four regions.

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The Infrastructure Crisis in Ugandan Public Universities: Beyond Pretence to Policy Failure

Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara1 , Akampulira Sarah2 , Dr. Mategeko Betty3

Published on 02 Jun 2026

The infrastructure crisis in Ugandan public universities has been repeatedly acknowledged in policy documents yet persistently unaddressed in practice, representing a defining contradiction of Uganda's higher education governance over the past three decades. This study investigated the nature, magnitude, structural determinants, and institutional consequences of infrastructure inadequacy across six purposively selected Ugandan public universities — Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Busitema University, Gulu University, and Kabale University — which collectively enrolled approximately 78% of all public university students in Uganda as of 2023. Adopting a cross-sectional explanatory design, the study drew on primary data collected through structured surveys and facility audits administered to 420 stratified randomly sampled departmental and administrative units, supplemented by secondary data from audited financial statements, National Budget Framework Papers (2018/19–2023/24), and Uganda Bureau of Statistics higher education abstracts.

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When Endurance Becomes Erosion: Reconceptualizing Marital Persistence in the Context of Dysfunction

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Dr. Twinomujuni Rosebell2 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara3

Published on 02 Jun 2026

Marital persistence in the face of chronic dysfunction has long been interpreted through cultural, religious, and socioeconomic lenses as an expression of commitment and moral fortitude. However, emerging psychological and sociological discourse challenges this normative framing by foregrounding the cumulative psychological toll that such persistence exacts on individuals—particularly women—in structurally unequal union contexts. This study examined the psychosocial, economic, and structural determinants of dysfunctional marital persistence among married adults in Uganda, operationalising a newly conceptualised construct termed the Marital Erosion Index (MEI) to capture the latent transition from voluntary commitment to involuntary endurance.

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Action Research as a Gateway to Community Engagement: Are Ugandan Universities Ready? Including a Case Study of Metropolitan International University

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Dr. Mategeko Betty2

Published on 02 Jun 2026

This study examined the readiness of Ugandan universities to adopt Action Research (AR) as a mechanism for community engagement, with a case study of Metropolitan International University (MIU). Guided by three specific objectives — assessing faculty awareness and attitudes towards AR, evaluating institutional support structures for ARmediated community engagement, and examining the relationship between AR engagement and community engagement outcomes — the study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design involving 248 faculty members and 96 administrators drawn from MIU and five comparator universities using stratified random and purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analysed using univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate inferential tests (chi-square and Spearman's rho), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation.

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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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