Research Articles

Permanent URI for this collection

https://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/61

Browse

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

From belief to institution: The Embedded functions of witchcraft in traditional Lango society, northern Uganda
(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2026-05-06) Agea, Jacob Godfrey
Witchcraft has long been portrayed in African contexts as a source of fear, violence, and irrationality, particularly within colonial and contemporary human rights discourses. However, such representations often obscure their embeddedness within coherent socio-cultural, economic and political systems. This study examines the role of witchcraft in traditional Lango society in Northern Uganda, arguing that beyond its negative connotations, witchcraft historically functioned as a multi-dimensional social institution. Drawing on qualitative documentary analysis and culturally grounded ethnographic narratives, the study applies functionalist and interpretive frameworks to explore how witchcraft beliefs shaped social regulation, conflict mediation, moral enforcement, and psychological coping. The findings demonstrate that witchcraft operated as an informal governance mechanism that reinforced communal norms, mediated tensions, and provided culturally meaningful explanations for misfortune. Ethnographic vignettes from Lango communities illustrate how witchcraft discourse functioned as a symbolic language through which issues of inequality, power, and social responsibility were and are still negotiated. At the same time, the study critically acknowledges the ethical challenges associated with witchcraft accusations, particularly their gendered dimensions and potential for harm. The paper contributes to debates on indigenous knowledge systems by reframing witchcraft as a functional and adaptive institution rather than a purely pathological belief. It calls for context-sensitive approaches that balance cultural understanding with contemporary human rights considerations and or justice systems.
Influence of processors’ capacity on adherence to practices for quality propolis tincture production in Uganda
(African Crop Science Society, 2025-11-05) Biryomumaisho, Dickson; Amulen, D.R.; Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Kugonza, D.R.; Kajobe, Robert; Turyahabwe, N.; Mubangizi, N.; Birungi, P.
Propolis tincture (PT), a relatively new and rapidly marketed bee product in Uganda, has attracted investors attention; owing to its medicinal attributes and domestic uses. As a result of the increasing interest in PT commercialisation, there are concerns about the quality of PT in the market place owing to lack of specified standards. This study, therefore, sought to assess the capacity of processors and document their adherence to the specifications and considerations for producing quality PT in Uganda. To address this knowledge gap, a cross-sectional study was undertaken, using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The survey involved a total of 124 respondents, subjected to a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire in Kampala metropolitan, and Lira and Arua cities in Uganda. This was supplemented with three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and seven Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Results showed that PTPs had low capacity with moderate adherence levels (P<0.01) to recommended practices. They used normative references (EAS 38, EAS 39, EAS 804) and National Beekeepers Training and Extension (NBTE) Manual to guide production. Availability of infrastructure, processing equipment, staff capacity building and human resource quality, influenced PTPs’ adherence (P<0.01), with 28.05 mean score out of 49 expected. The study recommends that actors and stakeholders in Uganda’s apiculture sub-sector should support PTPs to build their capacity, based on a holistic understanding of the business environment in Uganda.
Naming as cultural epistemology: Knowledge, belief, and identity in Lango personal naming
(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2026-05-21) Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Eton, Marus
This epistemological study examined Lango personal naming practices among Northern Uganda’s Lango people as rich cultural narratives that encode identity, ecology, and spirituality. Employing a qualitative design grounded in interpretivist and constructivist paradigms, we analysed 131 personal names collected from 78 purposively selected elders, clan leaders, traditional birth attendants, linguists, and cultural custodians. Data were generated through in-depth interviews, key informant sessions, focus group discussions, and documentary analysis, conducted in Leb Lango and translated for thematic content analysis using open, axial, and selective coding. The findings organised names into eleven thematic domains: birth circumstances and physical conditions; environmental and ecological contexts; hardship, suffering, and resilience; joy, blessing, and prosperity; social conflict and relationships; spiritual and apotropaic functions; power, warfare, and strength; time, sequence, and birth order; place and spatial context; personality and destiny; and rituals, symbolism and kinship. Within these domains, names operate as micro-histories—descriptive, situational, and symbolic cultural artefacts that preserve lived realities and collective memory. Illustratively, Oceng/Aceng signifies daylight birth and social visibility; Alele encodes rainfall and ecological fertility; Okech/Akech reflects famine and resilience; while Owiti/Awiti embodies apotropaic protection through symbolic rejection. Contrasting with Western naming systems that often emphasise aesthetics, Lango anthroponymy reveals profound socio-cultural depth, embedding environmental awareness, emotional experience, and metaphysical beliefs into identity formation. Theoretically informed by symbolic interactionism, Geertzian thick description, and indigenous knowledge systems, the study positions Lango child naming as an epistemological practice through which knowledge is produced, transmitted, and sustained across generations. The study contributes to African onomastics by highlighting the specificity of Lango naming practices, particularly their agrarian ecological consciousness, unreserved acknowledgement of adversity, and protective metaphysical orientation. It underscores the urgent need for systematic documentation, integration of indigenous naming knowledge into educational curricula in Northern Uganda, and expanded comparative research across Nilotic societies to preserve and advance this dynamic and meaningful identity system.
Nutritionally essential macro and micro mineral contents of aframomum angustifolium and physalis peruviana wild edible fruits of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda
(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2026-05-21) Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Akello, Sarah
Eating wild fruits can be really good for you and me, and not just because they taste great. Two types of wild fruits, Aframomum angustifolium and Physalis peruviana, were studied to see how many important minerals they have. These minerals, like calcium (Ca), potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), are essential for our bodies to work properly. We used special machines to measure how much of each mineral was in the 15 samples of each fruit. K and Na were determined using the flame emission photometer; P was quantified spectrophotometrically, while Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The findings were compared to the amounts found in common mangoes. It turned out that these wild fruits are actually better sources of many minerals than mangoes. They have more phosphorus, sodium and magnesium, which are all important for our health. One of the wild fruits, Aframomum angustifolium, had more calcium and potassium than the other, Physalis peruviana. Both of them had a lot of iron and zinc, which are crucial for preventing diseases like anaemia. Physalis peruviana was especially rich in manganese, another important mineral. The good news is that eating these wild fruits regularly can help people get the minerals they need. This is especially important for people living in rural areas who might not have access to a variety of foods. The government and local leaders should think about how to make it easier for people to grow and eat these wild fruits. They could create policies to support the use of wild fruits in farming and gardening. This way, more people can benefit from the nutritional value of these amazing fruits. By making wild fruits a bigger part of our diets, we can stay healthier and stronger.
Quirky, humorous, and funniest market names in Lango Sub-region, Northern Uganda: Linguistic creativity, socio-cultural, economic, and historical overview
(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2026-04-14) Agea, Jacob Godfrey
This paper explores the distinctive and humorous naming culture of markets in the Lango sub-region, Northern Uganda, drawing on a comprehensive compilation of over 100 market names. The paper draws findings from interviews and social media insights to present a holistic account of how humour and language innovate public spaces and contribute to community resilience through commerce. Lango people, known for their linguistic creativity and cultural wit, adopt market names that go beyond simple geographic or functional descriptors, embedding humour, wordplay, local anecdotes, and social commentary. This naming tradition serves multifaceted purposes: it attracts attention to these markets, fosters social interaction and community cohesion, and contributes to the cultural identity and pride of the Lango people. These markets are vital centres of trade, especially for agricultural produce and livestock, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of households. The names themselves, prefixed frequently by "Cuk," the Lango word for market, reflect the regional dialect and customs. They showcase nuanced uses of language as both mnemonic devices and informal branding mechanisms that enhance the market’s memorability and appeal. This linguistic humour also acts as a social glue, creating shared cultural references and strengthening collective memory. By analysing these quirky and often cryptic market names, this compilation reveals a rich tapestry of linguistic playfulness and social commentary embedded in place names, reflecting how language functions as a tool for identity, marketing, and cultural expression in rural contexts. It is hoped that this documentation will serve as a foundation to preserve an intangible cultural heritage at risk from modernisation pressures and to underscore the importance of linguistic creativity in sustaining local identities and economies. The findings have broader implications for understanding the role of humour in place-naming and economic development across similar African settings.
Socioeconomic drivers for uptake of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop intensification innovations in Southwestern Uganda
(Journal Issues, 2026-01-02) Ainebyona, Roland Rwambuka; Sanya, Losira Nasirumbi; Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Karubanga, Gabriel; Mugisha, Johnny
The socioeconomic context of farmers plays a complementary role in determining uptake of agricultural innovations. In Uganda, despite considerable agricultural interventions, farmers’ adoption rates remain low. This study evaluated socioeconomic factors affecting uptake by systematically analyzing cross-sectional survey data of 265 smallholder potato farmers in three districts of southwestern Uganda, under the Community Action Research Programme Plus (CARP+) Project. Findings of the study indicated that farmers travelled nine kilometers to tarmac roads and four kilometers to input shops with access to credit, income, education level, input markets, and location as the most significant factors for uptake of innovative agricultural practices. The study recommended the development of tailored financial products, income enhancement through value-addition, and improved market linkages to increase agricultural productivity and profitability. The findings indicate a need to invest in agricultural education and capacity-building programs, integrate potato intensification modules into adult education and farmer field schools, and establish decentralized input distribution centres in remote farming communities to improve physical access to input markets, thereby reducing travel time and transaction costs. Additionally, the study emphasized the need to promote integrated support systems through coordinated efforts among extension services, financial institutions, and input suppliers to deliver holistic support to farmers.
The role of actors in promoting potato crop intensification innovations among smallholder farmers in southwestern Uganda
(Journal Issues, 2026-01-02) Ainebyona, Roland Rwambuka; Sanya, Losira Nasirumbi; Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Karubanga, Gabriel; Mugisha, Johnny
The limited uptake of innovative agricultural practices, despite their high potential to enhance yield and productivity, has directed attention towards more inclusive innovation processes. This study investigates actors’ roles, interactions, and linkages that facilitate uptake of potato crop intensification innovation practices within the Community Action Research Project Plus (CARP+) Project, a RUFORUM project that was launched by Makerere University in Southwestern Uganda. Data were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA), using UCINET software. Results revealed that potato crop intensification innovation process evolved in five key stages, each involving players from various AIS domains interacting with each other. Thus, a network of multi-domain actors demonstrates the importance of versatile engagement in promoting the uptake of innovative agricultural practices. The innovation network had lower scores of network density and Arch reciprocity (about 21 and 47%). Thus, dominance of unidirectional ties, while other players remained in the periphery indicates potential limited integration and feedback, unidirectional flow of information and other resources within network. Similarly, some players remaining in the periphery of the network implies weak network which cripples innovation uptake. The study recommends for strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships that foster collaboration among diverse actors who perform diverse roles for effective performance of a network.
Voices of the kky: Birds in Lango myths and traditions
(East African Nature and Science Organization, 2026-04-16) Agea, Jacob Godfrey
his study explored the rich and nuanced folklore surrounding birds in the Lango society of northern Uganda, highlighting their profound symbolic roles within myths, traditions, and indigenous knowledge systems. Grounded in Symbolic Interactionism and Ethno-ornithology, the study investigated how meanings are socially constructed around birds through everyday interactions, oral traditions, and close environmental observation. In Lango cosmology, birds are not merely ecological beings; they are also deeply embedded as messengers, omens, moral instructors, and intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through key informant interviews with 93 elders, purposively selected from various Lango sub-regions for their role as custodians of cultural knowledge. Thematic analysis revealed a wide range of symbolic interpretations associated with different bird species. For instance, an Owl (Tula) signifies both death and wisdom, while Turaco (Ongolomuge) represents forest vitality and continuity. Long-Tailed Widowbird (Ojwijwiny) is linked to courtship and attraction, whereas Crested Crane (Iwalu) symbolises harmony, love, and fidelity. Woodpeckers (Teltel/Ototok) are associated with rain prediction and perseverance, and Kingfishers (Pinycwir) signify prosperity and good fortune. Conversely, Vultures (Acut) and Ground Hornbills (Arum) are often interpreted as omens of misfortune. Doves (Awele) serve as spiritual connectors between the living and ancestors, while Weaver Birds (Ocok) embody diligence and communal responsibility. These symbolic associations reflect a deeply interconnected human–nature relationship, embedding ecological knowledge, ethical values, and social identity within cultural narratives. In the face of rapid socio-cultural and environmental change, the study underscores the importance of preserving such folklore as a vital repository of indigenous wisdom and environmental stewardship. There is thus, a need of further interdisciplinary research combining ethnography, ecology, ornithology, and anthropology to deepen the understanding of the ecological, cultural, mythical, and spiritual significance of birds in Lango culture

Browse

Browsing Research Articles by Author "Agea, Jacob Godfrey"

Results Per Page

Sort Options