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ItemEffect of universal primary education on pupils’ academic performance(Makerere University, 2024-09)The study investigates the Effect of Universal Primary Education on pupils’ academic performance. Uganda started implementing the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program in January 1997. The initiative aimed at providing free primary education to all school-age children, increase access to education and improve literacy rates across the country. To examine this relationship, the study used time series data for 33 years from 1990 to 2022. The pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) was found to be stationary, according to the unit root test. However, the variables of pupils’ academic performance (SAP), trained teachers (TT), public spending on primary education (PEP), and gross school enrollment (GSE) became stationary after differencing. The order of integration was determined using the Phillip-Perron and Augmented Dickey-Fuller root tests, which revealed a combination of I (1) and I (0) integration. Using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), the results show that gross school enrollment, public spending on primary education, and the presence of trained teachers positively correlate with pupils’ academic performance. In the policy perspective, the government should invest in building and maintaining school facilities, including classrooms, libraries and sanitation facilities, to accommodate the growing number of pupils and provide a conducive learning environment. Second, the government should continue to allocate substantial and increased funds to primary education to maintain and enhance the quality of education. Third, the government can develop strategies to attract qualified individuals into the teaching profession and retain experienced teachers. This can include offering competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Subject keywords; Academic performance, Pupils, Universal primary education
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ItemEffect of renewable energy consumption on youth unemployment in Uganda(Makerere University, 2025-11)The report investigates how renewable energy consumption affects youth unemployment in Uganda from 1990–2024. Using an ARDL model, it finds that Uganda’s high reliance on traditional biomass increases youth unemployment in the long run, while economic growth significantly reduces it. FDI has a small positive employment effect, and inflation is insignificant. The study concludes that renewable energy will only reduce youth unemployment if Uganda shifts from traditional biomass to modern renewable technologies. It recommends modernizing the energy sector, improving technical skills, promoting employment focused FDI, and strengthening economic growth policies. Subject keywords; Renewable energy consumption, Uganda, Youth unemployment.
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ItemThe effects of foreign direct investment on unemployment rate in Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Uganda faces high youth unemployment due to rapid population growth, inadequate skills, and reliance on low-productivity sectors, leading to poverty, school dropouts, and underemployment (Bbaale, 2014), with significant social costs such as exploitation and unrest (Egessa et al., 2021a). The overall unemployment rate was around 2.94% in 2024. However, unemployment, particularly among those aged 15-24, is significantly higher, with estimates ranging from 64% to 70%. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows on the unemployment rate in Uganda. Specifically, the study examined the effect of FDI inflows on the unemployment of Uganda in the presence of institutional quality factors such as control of corruption, political stability, and governance effectiveness. The study employed the quantitative research design, which aimed at utilizing time-series data for the period between 1990 to 2023. The data source was the World Development Indicators file of the World Bank. Guided by Okun’s law of controlling unemployment through aggregate demand, the study embraced the job-matching theory, which explains the process by which workers and employers find suitable matches in the labor market, focusing on the alignment of worker skills and employer requirements. The study performed data analysis at three different levels: univariate, bivariate, and multivariate. The univariate involved descriptive statistics, the bivariate involved the Pearson correlation coefficient, while the multivariate case involved the estimation of the OLS multiple linear regression model. Before the estimation of the model, the study ran the stationarity test, the cointegration test, and the Granger causality test to evaluate a better model. The findings showed that foreign direct investment, economic growth, and a stable political environment all helped reduce unemployment in Uganda, while rapid population growth made the problem worse. Most importantly, when different aspects of governance, such as fighting corruption, maintaining political stability, and ensuring effective public institutions improved together, they had the greatest impact on reducing unemployment. To respond to these challenges, Uganda focused on attracting job-creating investment, invested in training and education to prepare its growing population for the workforce, and improved governance through coordinated efforts. A combined strategy that linked economic progress with strong institutions was essential for creating long-term employment opportunities.
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ItemStructural determinants of unemployment in Uganda(Makerere University, 2025-10)This study examined the determinants of unemployment in Uganda, focusing on the roles of agricultural, industrial, and service sector employment, alongside macroeconomic and demographic factors. Using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to account for mixed integration orders among variables and testing for both the long and short-run relationship between the variables, the analysis revealed that sectoral employment patterns shape unemployment dynamics in distinct ways over time. Agricultural employment temporarily reduces unemployment in the short term but exhibits diminished positive effects over the long term. Industrial sector growth initially raises unemployment, but eventually contributes to job creation as economies of scale and complementary sectors emerge. Similarly, service sector expansion shows delayed benefits, with short-term unemployment pressures preceding gradual improvements. Population growth emerged as a persistent driver of unemployment. While macroeconomic factors like inflation and GDP growth demonstrate limited direct impacts, the findings highlight broader structural challenges, including the need for balanced industrialization, demographic management, and sectoral modernization. The study emphasizes targeted policy interventions to enhance agricultural productivity, promote labour-intensive industrial growth, and strengthen high-employment service subsectors such as tourism and ICT. Addressing Uganda’s unemployment crisis requires integrated strategies that bridge short-term labour absorption with long-term economic transformation, prioritizing inclusive growth and stability. Subject keywords; Structural determinants, Uganda, Unemployment,
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ItemNamitala-Cobams-masters-2025( 2025-11-26)