Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences

PhD Public Defense by Ms. Tuhaise Betty Tumuhirwe
2025-10-08 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Conference Hall, Block B, CoBAMS, Conference Room, Block B, CoBAMS, Kampala, Uganda
The Dean, School of Business, College of Business and Management Sciences cordially invites you to a PhD Defense.
PhD Candidate: Ms. Tuhaise Betty Tumuhirwe

Thesis Title: Bond market Development, Government Effectiveness, Private Sector Participation, and Infrastructure Development in Africa.

Date and Time: 8th October 2025, starting at 9:00 am

Venue: College of Business and Management Sciences Conference Hall

Dean: Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng

Supervisors:

Dr. Eric Nzibonera
Dr. Yusuf Kiwala
Dr. Jude Thaddeo Mugarura

PhD Public Defense by Ms. Apon Linda Ismene
2025-10-14 09:00 - 13:00 | Conference Hall, Block B, CoBAMS, Conference Room, Block B, CoBAMS, Kampala, Uganda
The Dean, School of Business, College of Business and Management Sciences cordially invites you to a PhD Defense.
PhD Candidate: Ms. Apon Linda Ismene
Thesis Title: Internal Control Systems, Leadership Style, Cash flow Management Behaviour and Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda

Date and Time: 14th October 2025, starting at 9:00 am

Venue: College of Business and Management Sciences Conference Hall

Dean: Associate Professor Godfrey Akileng

Supervisors:

Dr. Ismail Kintu
Dr. Geofrey Nuwagaba

PhD Public Defense by Mr. Bashir Rajab Kagere
2025-11-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Conference Hall, Block B, CoBAMS, Conference Room, Block B, CoBAMS, Kampala, Uganda
INVITATION: PhD Public Defense
The Dean, School of Economics under the College of Business and
Management Sciences (CoBAMS), cordially invites you to the PhD Public
Defense of the following candidate:
Name of the Candidate: Bashir Rajab Kagere
Title of Thesis: Firm Innovation Behaviour and Performance
Date: Wednesday 20th November 2025.
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Venue: CoBAMS Conference Hall at Makerere University

Supervisors:
1.Dr. Thomas Mwebaze
2.Dr. Nicholas Kilimani
TITLE: FIRM INNOVATION BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE
Abstract
Manufacturing firms in developing countries operate under structurally weak conditions, characterized by limited regulatory enforcement, pervasive informality, shallow financial markets, inadequate intellectual property protection, and minimal Research and Development (R&D) investment, all of which constrain innovation and firm performance. In Uganda, the scarcity of locally developed innovations reinforces dependence on imported goods, eroding domestic initiative, undermining value addition, employment creation, and long-term competitiveness. This dissertation examines how Ugandan manufacturing firms address these innovation challenges and whether their innovation behavior translates into performance gains. Specifically, it (1) examines the effects of competition from the informal sector (CIS) and access to finance on firm innovation behaviour, (2) identifies the product innovation strategies employed by manufacturing firms, and (3) analyses the impact of these strategies on firm performance. To guide the analysis, the study draws on five interrelated theoretical frameworks: dual economy, pecking order, institutional theory, and both the resource-based and knowledge-based views. The first objective employs World Bank Enterprise Survey data and a multivariate probit model, revealing that exposure to CIS stimulates product innovation, with financing sources shaping firm innovation choices. The second objective categorizes product innovation strategy into four groups: product innovation is internally developed (Make), sourced externally (Buy), created through collaboration (Ally), or developed by modifying original innovations (Imitate). It utilizes the Uganda National Innovation Survey (NIS) dataset, indicating that product innovation strategies differ according to firm innovation expenditures, obstacles, information sources, and objectives. Firms investing in external R&D and machinery acquisition are more likely to innovate. The third analysis, based on PLS-SEM and using the NIS dataset, reveals that product innovation strategy has no direct effect on firm performance, suggesting mediation by other firm capabilities, including product novelty and, to a lesser extent, internationalization. The study suggests improvements in regulatory enforcement, encouraging formalization of informal businesses, and expanding affordable long-term financing. Additionally, there is need to enhance firm R&D capacity and external technology acquisition, strengthen existing policies such as “Buy Uganda Build Uganda” (BUBU) to promote locally manufactured goods’ consumption, and strengthen the intellectual property rights (IPR) framework to incentivize firms to develop new products. Finally, prioritizing novelty is vital for fostering firm performance.
Keywords: innovation, finance, informality, manufacturing, strategy, & firm performance
Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we support the student in this important academic milestone.

PhD Public Defense by Mr. Faustino Byanyima
2025-11-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Conference Hall, Block B, CoBAMS, Conference Room, Block B, CoBAMS, Kampala, Uganda
INVITATION: PhD Public Defense
The Dean, School of Economics under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), cordially invites you to the PhD Public Defense of the following candidate:
Name of the Candidate: Faustino Byanyima
Title of Thesis:
THE EFFECT OF INTERNET USE ON DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS IN SELECTED SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Date: Wednesday, 20th November 2025.
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Venue: CoBAMS Conference Hall at Makerere University
Supervisors:

Associate Professor John Bosco Nyanzi
Professor Bruno Lule Yawe

ABSTRACT
Sub-Saharan Africa has long faced persistently low educational attainment, poor health outcomes, and limited incomes, reflecting a significant development gap. This dissertation examines whether greater internet use can help improve these outcomes. It aims to evaluate the effect of internet use on development indicators by (i) assessing its effect on education attainment, (ii) analyzing its effect on life expectancy, and (iii) examining its effect on income per capita. The dissertation uses panel data from international sources such as UNESCO for literacy rates, ITU for internet use, and World Bank Development indicators for control variables. The first objective utilizes a common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG). The results show significant negative link between internet use and educational attainment, likely due to high disruptive potential. The control variables of institutional quality, pupil-teacher ratio, and the GDP share of agriculture have positive effects. The second objective employs full information maximum likelihood (FIML) and results indicate that internet use has a clear positive effect on life expectancy, likely because better connectivity expands access to health information, telemedicine, and knowledge of healthy practices. Education, institutional quality, and urbanization also have significant positive effects, whereas disease incidence has a significant negative effect. The third objective also adopts FIML and its results reveal that internet use affects income growth indirectly via internet-driven improvements in health. These findings lead to important policy recommendations: governments should promote digital inclusion while investing in complementary sectors like education and healthcare to ensure connectivity translates into higher literacy, longer lives, and economic growth. Initiatives to bridge digital disparities and strengthen institutions are vital so that all communities can share in the benefits of internet-enabled development.

Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we support the student in this important academic milestone.

PhD Public Defense by Ms. Christine Kim Atuhairwe
2025-12-04 14:00 - 17:00 | Conference Hall, Block B, CoBAMS, Conference Room, Block B, CoBAMS, Kampala, Uganda
INVITATION:
The Dean, School of Statistics and Planning under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), cordially invites you to the PhD Public Defense of the following candidate:
Name of the Candidate: Christine Kim Atuhairwe
Title of Thesis:
HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, VIRAL LOAD SUPPRESSION AND SURVIVAL AMONG OLDER PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV IN UGANDA
Date: Wednesday 4th December 2025.
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Venue: CoBAMS Conference Hall at Makerere University

Abstract

Older persons living with HIV (aged ≥50 years) have increased, a noteworthy public health challenge in low-and middle-income countries. Access to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) innovations are improving health-related quality of life, viral suppression and survival of persons living with HIV enrolled and retained on ART. The study aimed to determine Health-Related Quality of Life, viral suppression and survival of older persons living with HIV in Uganda.
A cross-sectional survey was carried out to determine the HR-QoL and viral suppression using a semi structured questionnaire. Overall, 439 older persons living with HIV were interviewed about their socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, clinical and no-clinical factors and analyzed using the binary logistic regression model. OPLHIV quality of life was studied using the domains of general health perception, physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, energy/fatigue, health distress and mental health and analyzed using the ordinal regression model. Also, a retrospective longitudinal study analysis of electronic medical records of OPLHIV from TASO centres of excellence was done using the Cox Hazard Regression Model.

The mean age of the participants was 58.0 years (±SD 7.4 years). About 42% of OPLHIV had a good HRQoL. General health perception was associated with multiple sexual partners (p=0.038), advanced HIV disease (p=0.011), and a viral load >200 copies/ml (p=0.003). Physical functioning correlated with tertiary education (p=0.049), being separated (p=0.004), 11-15 years on ART (p=0.027), and WHO clinical stage II (p=0.050). Factors for role functioning included age 60+ (p=0.002), secondary education (p=0.021), unemployment (p=0.001), WHO clinical stage II (p=0.002), and TB history (p=0.037). Social functioning linked to secondary education (p=0.004), being widowed (p<0.001), viral load >200 copies/ml (p=0.008), and WHO clinical stage II (p=0.011). Pain was associated with age 60+ (p=0.014), tertiary education (p=0.004), and unemployment (p=0.005). Energy correlated with secondary education (p=0.062), being separated (p=0.021), viral load >200 copies/ml (p=0.003), and WHO clinical stage II (p=0.028). Health distress was tied to secondary education (p<0.001), tertiary education (p<0.001), unemployment (p=0.033), and WHO stage II (p<0.001). Finally,

mental health was associated with secondary education (p=0.017), being widowed (p=0.043), multiple sexual partners (p=0.015), and WHO stage II (p=0.001). Overall HRQoL specifically correlated with age 60+ (p<0.001), secondary education (p<0.001), and WHO stage II (p=0.008).

About 88% had a viral load of less than 200 copies/µL. The factors associated with viral load less than 200 copies/µL were: being unemployed (aOR=4.1; 95% CI 1.73-9.84), WHO stage II (aOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.04-0.53), good adherence (aOR=16.6; 95% CI 1.91-145.60), having
no recent history of opportunistic infections (aOR=0.28; 95% CI 0.07-1.09), receiving spousal/family support (aOR=2.6; 95% CI 0.98-7.19), and receiving food supplies (aOR=6.0; 95% CI 1.17-31.58). No significant difference could be established with other variables.

A total of 30,758 medical records of OPLHIV from 1987-2023 were identified from TASO medical records. Of these 73% were active on ART, 6% had dead, 15% lost to follow up and 6% had transferred to other health facilities or regions. The survival of OPLHIV was significantly associated with being female (aHR=1.19; 95% CI 1.15-1.22), being married (aHR=0.99; 95% CI 0.77-0.80), separated/divorced persons (aHR=0.85; 95% CI 0.80-0.90), WHO clinical stage II (aHR=1.66; 95% CI 1.62-1.73), viral load >200 copies/µL (aHR=1.49; 95% CI 1.44-0.154) and fair adherence (aHR=0.94; 95% CI 0.74-1.19).
To improve the health-related quality of life, viral suppression and survival of OPLHIV; there is need to increase routine clinical screening of WHO clinical stage, viral load, CD4 count, blood plasma viremia, disease status, tuberculosis and adherence to improve health care providers’ treatment practices.
Supervisors:

Associate Professor L. K Atuhaire
Cyprian Misinde

Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we support the student in this important academic milestone.

PhD Public Defense for Ms. Lillian Ayebale
2026-02-11 10:00 - 13:00 | School of Statistics Board Room, Makerere University, KAMPALA, KAMPALA, +2560414, Uganda
INVITATION:
The Dean, School of Statistic and Population Studies under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), cordially invites you to the PhD Public Defense of the following candidate:
Name of the Candidate: Ms. Lillian Ayebale
Title of Thesis:
Risky Sexual Behaviours, fertility and coping responses among adolescents in South- central Uganda
Date: Wednesday 11th Februrary 2026.
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Venue:
School of Statistics Board Room
ABSTRACT
Adolescents in Uganda face multiple vulnerabilities and exposures to risks. Approximately 25% of Ugandan teenagers become pregnant by the age of 19 years. This study explored and examined risky sexual behaviors, fertility, and coping responses among adolescents in South-Central Uganda.
This was a mixed-methods study. It involved a systematic review of studies on correlates of fertility among adolescents in SSA, statistical analysis of risky sexual behaviors among adolescents, and qualitative interviews with adolescents and parents from the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), a population-based HIV surveillance cohort. A systematic review protocol was developed and published in PROSPERO to guide the systematic synthesis of determinants of adolescent fertility in SSA. A negative binomial regression model was used to determine the risky sexual behaviours among adolescents, while the qualitative data analysis adopted an interpretivist approach to understand risky sexual behaviors and how parents influence these adolescent behaviors.
Cultural practices and taboos, child marriages, lack of parent-child communication on sexual matters, socioeconomic factors, and adolescent individual factors were consistently cited as key correlates of adolescent fertility according to the systematic synthesis. Adolescents aged 18-19 exhibited a significantly higher incidence of risky sexual behaviours compared to those aged 15-17 (aIRR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.77-2.28). Living in a single-mother family structure (aIRR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.15-1.60), with other relatives (aIRR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-1.60), with non-relatives (aIRR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.21-1.94), or alone (adolescent-headed) (aIRR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.34-2.10) were all associated with higher incidence rates compared to living with both biological parents. Parents acknowledged that talking with adolescents could help reduce risky sexual behaviour. Parental talks on sexual matters were usually unplanned and happened when triggered by specific incidents.
Evidence from the results suggest that adolescents engage in risky sexual behaviours including non-marital sexual partnerships, multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex with a non-marital partner, and transactional sex. Parent-adolescent communication on sexual matters is essential/pertinent approach is needed to reduce/avert the associated risks. There is need for continuous engagement of all different stakeholders involved in adolescents work to have targeted interventions to prevent the risky sexual behaviours among the young people.
Supervisors:

Allen Kabagenyi
Stephen Ojiambo Wandera

Critical Reader:
Dr. John Ssekamate – Ssebuliba
Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we support the student in this important academic milestone.

PhD Public Defense by Mr. Jordan Paul Semwanga
2026-04-07 08:00 - 17:00
INVITATION: The Dean of the School of Economics, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University invites you to a Viva Voce examination for Mr. Jordan Paul Semwanga on Wednesday, 23rd of April 2025, at 2PM in the College Conference Hall, Makerere University.
Date: Tuesday 23rd April 2025.
Time: 2:00 pm
Venue: The Conference Room, Level 2, Block B, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University.
Title: “Crop production and welfare effects of using sludge manure among rural households in selected districts of central Uganda.”
ABSTRACT
The quality of arable soils has continuously deteriorated in Uganda. This has resulted into reduced crop production and constrained household welfare especially among the poor and agro-based households. Many farm households have tried to adapt to the losses in soil fertility through the use of inorganic and organic supplements. Although, a vast body of literature exists that demonstrates the positive impact of either inorganic or organic supplements but one can argue that little evidence exists about the impact of sludge manure on household crop production, household welfare, and the economic viability of its use. Thus, this dissertation examines the impact of sludge manure on rural farm households’ economic outcomes. To elaborate, the dissertation address three key specific objectives which include; (1) examined the impact of sludge manure adoption on household crop production, (2) investigated the welfare effect of sludge manure adoption among rural farm households and (3) evaluated the economic viability of using sludge manure in maize production.
The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Specifically, Propensity score matching, Endogenous switching regression and a partial budgeting analysis framework were employed as tools of analysis. The key results from this dissertation include; (1) sludge manure adoption leads to increased crop yields of say green bananas, maize, coffee and cassava crops (2) the results shows that using sludge manure improve per capita household food expenditure and per capita total household expenditure for adopters compared to non- adopters, (3) applying sludge manure in the production of maize, yields a higher marginal rate of return and this means that it is economically viable for household farmers to use sludge manure other than using inorganic fertilizers. In terms of recommendations, the study recommends promotion of sludge manure as a pathway of increasing crop yields and eventually crop income which facilitates household welfare. Still, since majority of smallholder farmers are financially constrained, the use of sludge manure is recommended because it is cost effective in the production of crops like maize.
Supervisors
Dr Aggrey Niringiye (PhD)
Senior Lecturer, Makerere University, School of Economics.
Dr. John Sseruyange (PhD)
Lecturer, Makerere University, School of Economics
Venue

Your presence and participation will be highly appreciated as we support the student in this important academic milestone.
