Browsing by Author "Ngaka, Willy"

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    The economic contribution of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Uganda: a case of Mubende and Buhweju districts
    (International Journal of Technology and Management, 2016-06) Picho, Epiphany Odubuker; Nabaasa, Herbert; Ngaka, Willy
    Small-scale mining is often used interchangeably with artisanal mining, with acceptance that there is no consistent global definition for the terms. Broadly, smallscale mining refers to the exploitation of marginal or small deposits of minerals by individuals, groups or organizations with minimal or no mechanization. Smallscale mining (SM) is one of the emerging economic activities providing alternative livelihoods globally with more than 13 million artisanal and small-scale miners and about 150 million people indirectly reliant on it (ILO, 2003). In Uganda, Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining is on the increase and is largely a poverty-driven activity used as a coping mechanism with thousands of local communities currently engaged in the mining practice (MEMD, 2011). The communities in the mining sites live in deplorable sanitary conditions, use toxic chemicals such as mercury in the gold extraction and have severely degraded fragile ecosystems that support their livelihoods (NEMA, 2012).
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    The Effect of ICT on Households’ Food Security in Uganda. Evidence from Acholi Sub Region in Northern Uganda
    (International Journal of Technology and Management, 2018-06-30) Picho, Epiphany Odubuker; Namubiru, Margaret; Ngaka, Willy
    According to the Global Food Security Report (2017), about 108 million people are food insecure all over the world, and the situation is likely to worsen. It is estimated that by 2050, 9.1 billion people worldwide will be food insecure (FAO-UN, 2010). ICT is known for promoting food security in rural areas through access to information (Olaniyi, 2016). An investigation of ICT usage on households’ food security is therefore paramount. The study aimed at investigating the effect of ICT utilization on households’ food security in Uganda, with evidence from Acholi Sub region. The study employed a cross- sectional and descriptive research design through quantitative and qualitative research approach. Data was obtained with the help of 380 questionnaires, Focused discussion guide, documentary review and observation checklist. Results shows that on average 18.2% of the households in Acholi sub-region use ICT tools to access food security information while 31.9% do not use ICT tools for food security information. It was also found that the majority of the households’ access information through the available Local FM radios followed by mobile phones. Findings also indicate that utilization of ICT tools in accessing food security information improves households’ food security status by 38%. The study recommends more development of ICT infrastructure in the region to increase access to information for households’ food security.
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    Effect of income dynamics on household food security in rural communities , evidence from Uganda
    (International Journal of Technology and Management, 2019) Namubiru, Margaret; Ngaka, Willy; Odubuker, Epiphany Picho
    The Objective of the study was to investigate the effect of income dynamics on households’ food security in rural economies with evidence from Uganda. The study was completely a desk review following a descriptive research design. First, the study reviewed empirical studies on income dynamics; and the effect of income on households’ food security in rural areas. This was followed by an analysis of similar variables in Uganda using data from the Uganda National Household Surveys (2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2012/2013 and 2016/2017). Analytical findings indicated that while rural income is increasing, change in household income fluctuates significantly. Male headed households earn more income than female headed households. Moreover, income is higher in literate households compared to illiterate households. The study further found that while the subsistence sector is reducing in absolute terms, it remains the main source of income to rural households. Additionally, households’ source of income varies from time to time. Study findings on household food security indicated that change in households’ income significantly affect household food security through households’ food expenditure. Change in household expenditure influence access to food, dietary diversity, and consumption. Further observations suggest that external shocks like inflation highly affect household food security in rural areas. The findings further state that rural agricultural programs have a positive correlation with income and household food security. In conclusion, while household income affects household food security in rural areas, the effect significantly vary with income changes. The study recommends for rural income stabilization strategies including economic diversification and commercialization of agriculture.
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    Employees involvement as agent of change management and performance of local governments in eastern Uganda: an empirical study.
    (International Journal of Technology and Management, 2020-12) Picho, Odubukare Epiphany; Aupal, Wilfred Kokas; Ngaka, Willy; Oleja, Charles
    Performance of Local Governments is key in delivering essential services to the citizens of the Country. Citizen get health, education for children thus developing the human resource, roads to enable movement of people and goods to markets, and technical assistance for farmers. However, the citizens are not getting the appropriate levels of services: evidenced by poor health facilities, low grades in schools, impassable or no roads despite Government and donor funding. The question, therefore, is; how can Local Governments improve performance in service delivery? The study investigated the relationship between employee involvement and performance of Local Governments in Eastern Uganda. A cross-sectional study design was used involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches with a sample of 48. Stratified, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics of Spearman Product Moment Correlation and regression. The findings indicated a strong positive relationship (r=0.724**) between employees involvement and performance of Local Governments. Employees involvement accounted for 55% (Adjusted R2 = 0.550) of variance in performance of Local Governments in Eastern Uganda. The study concludes that there is a strong positive relationship between employees involvement and performance of Local Governments. It is recommended that the managers and practitioners of Local Governments in Eastern Uganda should involve employees as change agents so as to improve performance.
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    The Health and Ecological Implications of Mercury use in Artisanal Gold Extraction Process
    (International Journal of Technology and Management, 2018-06-12) Picho, Epiphany Odubuker; Nabaasa, Herbert; Ngaka, Willy
    This paper presents findings of the study to examine the implications of Mercury use in artisanal gold mining on the ecological systems and the miners’ health. Mercury is extensively used in gold extraction by artisans with implications on their health and the environment.Although Artisanal Gold Mining is an important economic activity that underpins the livelihoods of many people in Uganda and elsewhere in worldwide, the public health and ecological issues particularly, the mercury use in the gold extraction process are of great concern. Unfortunately, the major focus in Sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally been on large-scale mining with less interest on health, safety and environment issues in artisanal gold mining (Collier, 2010). An exploratory cross sectional study design was used to examine the implications of Mercury use in artisanal gold mining on the ecological systems and the miners’ health in the districts of Mubende and Buhweju. 384 respondents were selected from artisans, minining rights holders and local leaders. Data was collected using observation checklists, survey questionnaire, interview guide and documents review guide. The findings indicated a strong correlation between the variables of interest determined using odds ration and 95% confidence intervals. It was established that, the mining communities live in deplorable sanitary conditions, use toxic chemicals such as mercury in the gold extraction process putting their health at a great risk and have severely degraded fragile ecosystems that should support their livelihoods.In order to assess the relationship between the use mercury in gold extraction and ecological/health implications, all the factors that were significant at bi-variate level were subjected to a multivariate analysis using logistic regression model. The significant factors such as the implication of mercury use on land and water, miners’ livelihood security and food production were fitted in the model and subjected to further analysis. A Back Ward Stepwise Logistic Regression was used to control for all probable confounding variables in the test. The controls were done through model modification. The best logistic regression model fitted finally predicted the probability or chance that mercury use in gold extraction significantly affects the miner’s health and ecological value.