Academic submissions (CHuSS)http://hdl.handle.net/10570/40872024-03-28T21:58:07Z2024-03-28T21:58:07ZAddressing corruption in the public service: A virtue ethical critique of Uganda's integrity systemOkok, Samuelhttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/71832019-02-13T08:24:15Z2018-12-01T00:00:00ZAddressing corruption in the public service: A virtue ethical critique of Uganda's integrity system
Okok, Samuel
In most of Uganda’s public service and the general society, corruption has remained a big challenge that particularly undermines the provision of the public good. The persistence of corruption in the public service has been followed by poor service delivery which frustrates the ethical ideals of realising the good life and the good society. Amidst such persistence, the government of Uganda has a set of institutions, laws, and policies which form an integrity system established to fight corruption. The elements of this system that are discussed in the study include anti-corruption institutions like the DEI and IG, and the legal framework with laws such as Anti-Corruption Act 2009, and its Amendment of 2015. But even with this integrity system in place which is ideally expected to fight and alleviate corruption, this problem has nonetheless persisted in Uganda’s public service.
This study, therefore, attempted to address this problem by providing a long-term and lasting solution. Four specific objectives were addressed which included ascertaining the basic cause of corruption, describing the phenomenon of this vice, examining Uganda’s integrity system vis-à-vis the fight against corruption, and identifying the necessary interventions that can lead to an effective integrity system to ably fight the vice. The analysis and discussion was based on three theories which include virtue ethics which was used as the major theoretical framework for the study, Kwame Gyekye’s moral revolution theory that also inclines more towards virtue but from an African perspective and specifically targets corruption, and Lawrence Kohlberg’s moral development theory that complement the virtue ethical theories especially in suggesting strategies of promoting an effective integrity system that can help contain the vice.
As a step towards addressing this vice, an explanation of the genesis of the problem was done by pointing out that it all starts with the wrong theorisation of the basic cause of corruption. Consequently, efforts to ascertain the basic cause of corruption in Uganda were undertaken following virtue ethics parameters. The concept of corruption was clarified through scrutinising the commonly advanced definitions of corruption. And as a result, the study comes up with a definition of corruption as ‘a vicious act involving public officers who clandestinely use their official positions to unethically satisfy their private interests at the expense of the public interest.’ Further efforts were made to scrutinise the commonly advanced causes of corruption like the poor economic conditions, weak laws, and African traditional cultural values, among others. An observation was made that these factors mentioned are not basic but rather secondary causes. Therefore, the basic cause of corruption according to the study is the vicious character of many public officers and other members of the society.
In light of the above, it was revealed that Uganda’s integrity system does not seek to address the basic cause of corruption, something which explains the persistence of corruption despite the various interventions in place. And if the problem is to be contained, then a strategy has to be developed to deal with this basic cause through the cultivation of a virtuous citizenry. Consequently, I suggested an integrational approach with three possible options of cultivation of virtuous citizens through virtue/character education, developing a mechanism of identifying virtuous role models, and strict enforcement of the laws on corruption as a realistic remedy to the problem.
A dissertation submitted to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Applied Ethics.
2018-12-01T00:00:00ZAlcohol use and addiction: The moderating role of psychological stressNabwire, Marthahttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/66602018-11-05T12:03:33Z2018-10-01T00:00:00ZAlcohol use and addiction: The moderating role of psychological stress
Nabwire, Martha
Various literatures indicate that psychological stress can influence the amount of alcohol consumed and high alcohol consumption can later lead to addiction. The aim of the study was to examine the role of psychological stress as a predictor of alcohol use and addiction. One hundred and seventy-eight (178) adults of which 36 were females and 142 were males from Omoro district participated in the study. They were aged between 18 to 50 years. These participants were consuming alcohol at a minimum of three days in a week. These participants answered a self-scoring questionnaire which included the perceived stress scale and the AUDIT. The perceived stress scale was used to assess the stress score, AUDIT subscales were used to measure for alcohol use and addiction. The study was guided by four hypotheses. Linear regression was used to test the first three hypotheses and the fourth hypothesis was tested using the PROCESS macro for SPSS method. The results obtained from the study indicated that psychological stress was a significant predictor of alcohol use (t=3.631, F=13.185, R2=.070, p <.001), psychological stress was a significant predictor of addiction (t=5.607,F=31.433, R2=.152, p<.001), alcohol use was a significant predictor of addiction (t=13.722, F=188.304, R2= .517, p<.001) and the relationship between alcohol use and addiction was significantly dependent on the level of psychological stress (t=29.8014, p= .8088).
A dissertation submitted to the School of Psychology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology Degree of Makerere University.
2018-10-01T00:00:00ZAn analysis of credit line model of distributing essential medicines in Public Health Facilities in Nebbi districtOlama, Nicksonhttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/70522019-01-04T06:51:01Z2018-11-21T00:00:00ZAn analysis of credit line model of distributing essential medicines in Public Health Facilities in Nebbi district
Olama, Nickson
The Ugandan government has experimented with various supply chain models for distribution of essential drugs and supplies since 1985. In 2010, the credit-line model of distributing essential medicines in public health facilities was adopted. In this study, it was discovered that, the credit-line model operates a dual push-pull system of drug supply and distribution to government health facilities. Under the model, all the lower level health facilities (HC11s and HC111s) passively received essential medicines through a push system whereby NMS determined the types and quantities of medicines delivered to lower level facilities using a standardized supply kits distributed according to a delivery plan made at the beginning of each financial year. Meanwhile, the Hospital and Health Center Four (HCV) operated a pull system whereby, each facility determined the types and quantities of medicines needed and placed orders with the National Medical Stores although the list from which they made order was reported to be so rigid.Consequently,drug stock outs remains a common occurrence in most of the lower level health facilities in Nebbi district. This study therefore, analyzed how the credit-line model of drugs distribution works and how it has affected availability of essential medicines. The structural strengths and weaknesses of the model were also analyzed.
A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used comprising of both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The qualitative data were collected by the use of semi-structured interviews, Focus Group Discussionheld with 6 Health Units Management Committees (HUMCs)totaling to 48 FGD members and In-depth interviews with Key Informants comprising of the administrators of the health services in the district namely;In-Charges of the public health facilities, Members of the District Health Team and top district leaders, District Medicine Store Keeper and private medicine transporters, while the quantitative data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to 165 primary respondents who were the users of health services in Nebbi District.The study discovered that, there were limited responsiveness of the current credit-line model to the local and context-specific facility needs of especially the lower level health facilities with exception of the hospitals and HC1Vs that had the leverage of requisitioning for medicines based on facility needs. Procurement and distribution of essential drugs were done without involvement of the frontline managers of HC11s and HC111s. All the HC11s and 111s were reportedly supplied with predetermined kit by the NMS and thereby leading to supply of wrong drugs, insufficient supply and drug stock-outs in most of the lower level health facilities in District.The study concluded that the push aspect (kit based method) of the credit-line model of distributing essential drugs to especially the lower level health facilities was in a top-down nature and has contradicted the aim of decentralization by limiting participation of the managers and local leadership of the lower level health facilities and has thereby, turned them into passive recipients of medicines from higher levels except the hospitals and HC1Vs that maketheir own orders.
A dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Social Sector Planning and Management of Makerere University
2018-11-21T00:00:00ZAn analysis of human rights violations arising from delays in disposing of criminal cases in the High Court of UgandaNahabwe, Linnard Remaxhttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/64242018-08-20T03:02:00ZAn analysis of human rights violations arising from delays in disposing of criminal cases in the High Court of Uganda
Nahabwe, Linnard Remax
Delays in disposing of criminal cases are rampant in Uganda including at the High court, which handles capital offences and cases on appeal. These delays arise from both the provisions in the law and the practice of courts. The right to a fair trial, which is, recognised both under international law and Uganda’s Constitution requires that persons charged with criminal offence should have their cases handled expeditiously. Therefore a violation of this right is both a violation of international law and the Constitution of Uganda. Violation of the right to a speed trial is not just a violation of the fundamental rights to a fair hearing, but also a violation of other fundamental human rights. This study analyses how delays violate the right to fair trial and also how they also violate other fundamental rights of the person. It starts with a presentation of the current situation in Uganda as regards delays in disposing of cases and focusing on the High Court. It then discusses how delays violate the right to a speedy trial and the other components of the right to a fair trial. It also discusses a range of other human rights that are violated due to delays in disposing of criminal cases. Finally, it concludes that indeed delays lead not only to violation of the right to a fair trial but also other fundamental human rights. It concludes with recommendations to the different stakeholders on what they should do to avoid the violation of human rights that is occasioned by delays in disposing of criminal cases in the High Court.