Post-colonial representation of women's education in African novels

Purpose: This study investigates the representation of women’s education in Africa within the postcolonial context. The research aims to assess the portrayal of women’s education as a tool for empowerment and social change, focusing on the socio-political implications of post-colonialism and its impact on women’s educational experiences, considering the ongoing legacies of colonialism. Research methodology: In terms of Methodology, a comparative literary analysis was employed, to analyze thematic and narrative elements of women's education. A purposive sampling method was used to select five significant African novels. Data was further scrutinized through secondary literature that relates to themes of post-colonialism and women's education in African contexts. This analysis will deploy close reading and qualitative literary analysis and most of the data obtained were analyzed thematically. Results: The findings reveal that themes such as the tension between modern education and traditional expectations were recurrent in the five novels. Conclusions: This study affirms that African post-colonial novels do not only serve as literary expressions but are critical sites for investigating gender roles, education and colonial legacies reinforcing the idea that education as portrayed in the selected novels is a key avenue for women empowerment and societal transformation Limitations: The research was limited by focusing on few authors, which may not fully capture the experiences of other authors in another culture or locality. Contribution: This article illustrates how education empowers women, to challenge oppressive systems and redefine their identities and offers insights into the impact of women’s education, focusing on its portrayal in post-colonial novels

Strengthening ethical Values and accountability in Local Governance: Citizen-Led Strategies in the Greater Kigezi Sub-Region of Uganda

Concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of ethical and accountability systems in public administration in Uganda. Addressing these challenges requires examining the role of citizens in promoting ethics and accountability in public service delivery and exploring the strategies to strengthen ethical values and accountability in local governments.This study sought to establish the role of citizens in enhancing ethics and accountability in public service delivery and to explore strategies for promoting ethical values which inturn can strengthen accountability mechanisms in local governments. The study was guided by the following research questions: What is the role of citizens in enhancing ethics and accountability in public service delivery? What strategies can help promote sound ethical values so as to strengthen accountability mechanisms in local governments?The methodology combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches that includedsurveys and interviewswith local government technical and political officials as well community leaders. Findings reveal that while local government initiatives often fall short in involving citizens adequately, empowering communities through education, sensitization and active participation in decision-making processes is identified as a key strategy for fostering ethical values and reinforcing accountability in local governance. The study also underscores the importance of reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and enhancing collaboration between local governments and civil society organizations. In conclusion, the study advocates for strengthening citizen engagement mechanisms, promoting transparency, and addressing structural barriers that hinder accountability in Uganda‟s local governance systems. Recommendations focus on: empowering citizens to combat corruption;strengthening political accountability in local governments; limiting the use of discretionary powers; salary review and harmonization; adopting the Malaysian anti-Corruption model and reviewing institutional frameworks for fighting corruption

Leveraging ICT to Enable Value Addition and Comprehensive Value Chain Participation for Smallholder Farmers in Kigezi Region: A Case Study of Potato Growers

The study of economic development and the well-being of smallholder potato growers in the Kigezi region was illustrated well to the benefit of readers and the magnitude of the outcome. The study was guided by the following objectives, identifying the main ICT technologies used within the agriculture domain; estimating the value addition of potatoes at different stages in the potato supply chain; identifying the constraints and opportunities in the potato supply chain, and recommending measures for improvement. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Using simple random and cluster sampling techniques, a total of 285 respondents were selected to participate in the study. The findings reveal varying levels of ICT adoption across the Kigezi region and on value adding the study revealed increasing engagement in direct sales, which could foster stronger market linkages and improve profitability. The constraints limiting ICT adoption among farmers were limited access to affordable internet and low levels of digital literacy among farmers. The regression analysis highlighted significant factors influencing ICT adoption among smallholder farmers. Age (Adjusted R² = 0.713) affected tailored information access; farm size (Adjusted R² = 0.697) impacted ICT infrastructure access; and digital literacy (Adjusted R² = 0.527) with the age. Cost perceptions were influenced by farm size (Adjusted R² = 0.8701), stressing the need for age-inclusive solutions, infrastructure investment, and affordable ICT tools for small farmers. The study highlighted the need for the government of Uganda, in collaboration with the institutions of higher learning, to design digital platforms that cater to diverse age groups, ensuring usability and relevance for younger and older farmers

Green gram yield prediction using linear regression

Predicting crop yields before harvest is key in enabling farmers make critical decisions as far as postharvest management is concerned. Besides, yield prediction plays a critical role in agriculture enterprise selection hence promoting food and nutrition security in a community. It is worth noting that various factors including ecological zones characteristics and farm management practices can vary significantly from season to season and farm to farmer, hence affecting crop yields. Given the importance of crop yield prediction in agriculture enterprise development and investments, a number of approaches have been adopted by farmers and breeders alike. These approaches range from controlled ideal condition analysis by breeders to the use of advanced plant physiological feature analysis using satellite image processing techniques. While a number of popular crops like rice and maize have a number of models proposed, limited yield prediction studies have been done on neglected crops like green gram. Therefore, this paper discusses the proposed green gram crop yield prediction model based on a stepwise linear regression technique using ecological zone characteristics, farm management practices and historic crop yield as the key variables. The study used a dataset of 107 records (gardens) and 9 features obtained from National Semi-Arid Research Institute (NaSARRI), Serere, Uganda. The predictor variables used were; soil type, soil PH, soil fertility, rainfall distribution, weeding practice, pest and disease management, fertilizer application, plant spacing, and cropping system. The model was evaluated for precision and evaluation result revealed that, with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 16.8%, the proposed model had a precision of 96.4% was deemed accurate in predicting green gram yield

Research Agenda 2020 - 2025

Research is a critical activity in policy development and implementation. It provides the evidence needed for decision-making. Research in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a channel of knowledge creation and dissemination that makes HEIs relevant to society by influencing development policy; creating knowledge needed for teaching and learning; contributing to national, regional, and international development through the sharing of research information and expertise; and improving the ranking of HEIs. In these regards, research should constitute a proportionately large percentage of activities and resources at universities. There is sufficient evidence indicating that universities with a clear research roadmap, increased investments in research, and increased research outputs have a higher potential for growth.5 The KABRA shall provide a roadmap for research activities and show the footprint of Kabale University in the knowledge society.Kabale Universit

Rethinking Brain Drain in Africa: Factors Driving the Exodus of the Highly Educated and the Role of Higher Education in Reversing the Trend

A discourse on the role of higher education institutions in Africa and the continued human capital flight from Africa is a ripe agenda. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the researcher engaged professionals from African countries who have received academic training from foreign countries as well as international work experience. The study employed Braun and Clerk’s framework, and thematic analysis of data was carried out to explain meanings and dormant ideas from the data. The study’s theoretical underpinning was based on the pull–push theory of migration, to explain the study findings. From the study, it was noted that there is a need to align Africa’s education curriculum with industry requisites, contextualise education for Africa’s unique challenges, establish policies and incentives to retain talent and invest in quality education with and through research funding. The study further underscores the pivotal role of effective leadership, collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the private–public sector, civic engagement and infrastructure development in crafting an environment conducive to talent retention. The study recommends, with recognition of the continent’s abundant talent, the need for HEIs to align education with market demands and foster an enabling environment for skilled professionals to contribute to African’s holistic development

Development of a fundamental model for pelleting efficiency of an innovative hybrid fish feed processing system

The development of a fundamental model for predicting pelleting efficiency at variable feed rates and number of orifices was central to optimizing the performance of an innovative hybrid fish feed processing system. The system was designed for simplicity, quality, and precision in fish feed production. Machine parameters, derived from comprehensive design and parametric analysis, were used to establish input variables for the pelleting efficiency model, including feed rate and number of orifices. With a constant driving force of 713.38 N from a 3 hp electric motor, the system demonstrated pelleting efficiencies of 55 %, 70 %, and 88 % for 15, 20, and 25 orifices, respectively. At a fixed die orifice, increasing the feed rate from 10 to 20 mm/rev at interval of 5 mm/rev resulted in efficiencies of 60 %, 80 %, and 110 %. Evaluation of the combined effect of the factors predicted an optimum efficiency of 86.9 % at optimal settings of 20mm/rev and 15 orifices. The model’s experimental validation, conducted under optimized conditions, showed that the 20-orifice die produced a higher pelleting efficiency (97%) but with reduced pellet floatability, whereas the 15-orifice die yielded an efficiency of 86.21 % and better floatability. The prediction error of 0.69% validated the model’s accuracy at 99 %. In addition, an introduction of cassava starch constituent improved pellet floatability and surface finish. This study therefore, highlights the potential of the developed model to enhance pelleting performance, balancing efficiency and pellet quality, and providing a robust foundation for optimizing fish feed production processes

A Narrative Review

AI is of great interest to researchers and practitioners as a means of achieving the necessary progress in the business industry. However, the role of AI in transforming SMEs is not well documented. The study assessed the role of AI in transforming SMEs globally. The study investigated the current state of AI in SMEs, challenges, and opportunities. This study reviewed a total of 1,021 published articles, mainly from 1992-2024. The review was performed using scientifically cited and indexed databases, namely Dimensions, Web Science, Elsevier Scopus, and Google Scholar. The study demonstrates how AI enables SMEs to improve competitiveness, streamline operations, and conform to sustainability objectives by tackling particular issues such as scarce resources, operational inefficiencies, and cyber threats. The study closes knowledge gaps in how SMEs, particularly those with limited resources, might benefit from affordable AI tools and platforms. Also, it was found that building workforce capacity through collaborations and customized training programs can help close the skills gap, while improving cybersecurity and implementing efficient data management frameworks can help with privacy issues. However, despite the growing frame of literature on AI packages, studies specializing in AI embracing on the organizational level stay restrained. The study findings emphasized regional integration within the EAC through technology transfer and the development of SME capability. The current study aligns with Uganda’s NDPIII (2020/21–2024/25), under the innovation and technology application pillar, accelerating industrial growth

Advanced machine learning models for the prediction of ceramic tiles’ properties during the firing stage

The firing stage is a critical phase in ceramic tile production, where the interplay of raw material composition and thermal treatment determines essential properties such as water absorption (WA) and bending strength (BS). This study employs advanced machine learning (ML) models to accurately predict these properties by capturing their complex nonlinear relationships. A robust dataset of 312 ceramic samples was analyzed, including variables such as particle size distribution, chemical and mineralogical composition, and firing temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1300 °C. Among the four ensemble ML models evaluated, CatBoost demonstrated the highest predictive performance. Model accuracy was assessed using multiple evaluation metrics, including the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). To enhance interpretability, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were used, revealing that clay mineral content and SiO₂ concentration were the most influential factors for WA, contributing approximately 40% and 30%, respectively. For BS, firing temperature (35%) and Al₂O₃ content (25%) were identified as the key predictors. Partial dependence plots further illustrated critical thresholds, such as a significant drop in WA above 62% SiO₂ and optimal BS values near 1200 °C, findings that align with known ceramic processing principles while offering new, data-driven formulation insights. These results demonstrate the value of explainable artificial intelligence (AI) in enabling real-time process optimization, enhancing product consistency, and supporting energy-efficient ceramic manufacturing. Future work will focus on extending the dataset to include a wider variety of clay compositions and investigating hybrid modeling approaches to further improve predictive performance

Transformando la educación superior en el África subsahariana: Superando los desafíos del siglo XXI con soluciones prácticas

The aim of the study was to document the 21st-century challenges faced by Higher Education practitioners and to propose practical solutions. Section 62(3) of the Act (UOTIA) prohibits public universities from spending funds not approved by Parliament. This provision hampers universities’ progress in diversifying revenue streams and proactively raising funds, which ultimately impacts higher education. Furthermore, Section 59(5) of the Act (UOTIA) does not give universities the right to invest their funds without the approval of the line ministries. This requirement hinders researchers and other external funders, who may not be fully aware of the role of line ministries in approving the use of donor, grant, or research funds. Other challenges included: weak leadership and governance, financial constraints, curriculum relevance, and the digital divide. However, practical remedies such as leadership development programmes, modernizing curricula, investing in digital infrastructure, and promoting equity and inclusivity can help address these issues. This study supports the World Education 2030 Agenda, which advocates for inclusive and equitable education. The EU Education Agenda prioritizes lifelong learning, digital transformation, and research collaboration to address global challenges and promotes SDG 4 (Access to Quality Education) as well as promoting innovation, gender equality, and a sustainable economy. Therefore, governments and higher education institutions should invest in leadership development programmes aimed at strengthening governance structures