School of Languages, Literature and Communication (SLLC) Collections

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    Radio for coffee growing and production: a case study of “Akazindaro K’omuhingi N’omuriisa” programme on Radio West
    (Makerere University, 2023) Taremwa, Oliver.
    There are several coffee growing and production constraints faced by smallholder farmers in south western Uganda. Despite the potential for agricultural technologies/practices to increase coffee production, adoption by farmers has remained low due to limited access agricultural information. Radio is increasingly becoming crucial for the dissemination of agricultural information. This current study sought to examine how radio has contributed to coffee growing and production in Uganda using a case study of the “Akazindaro k’omuhingi n’omuriisa” programme aired on Radio west. Radio west is one of Vision Group’s FM radio stations broadcasting in Runyakitara and targeting south western Uganda. Building on uses, gratifications and dependency theories, the study employed qualitative content analysis, in-depth interviews with 12 key informants and 4 focus group discussion. A total of 62 programme segments that aired during three months from January to march 202o were selected, to assess the type of coffee growing and production content on the programme, the relevance of the programme content to coffee farmers, and the challenges encountered in using radio to promote coffee growing. The findings of the study indicate that radio has contributed to the dissemination of coffee growing and production. It also emerged that the content aired on the radio is very useful in coffee growing and production. It was also observed that most farmers have adapted to the different styles of coffee growing and production, owing to the knowledge they acquire from the radios. The researcher recommends that the line ministries which are; the ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries, ministry of ICT & National Guidance together with the Uganda coffee Development Authority should come up with a media plan for training, briefing among others to equip journalists with information so that they can broadcast well packaged and timely agriculture programmes.
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    Analysis of tone errors in the acquisition of Chinese among Ugandan L2 speakers
    (Makerere University, 2026) Wang, Wei
    The acquisition of Chinese tones by Ugandan L2 speakers remains insufficiently studied. In teaching practice, Ugandan L2 speakers of Chinese persistently struggled to produce tones in isolated syllables, disyllabic words and tone-conditioned environments. Therefore, the study aimed at analyzing tone production errors made by Ugandan L2 speakers of Chinese by identifying these errors and describing their distribution. The study was guided by the Pitch Perception Model. The scope of analysis covered the production of monosyllabic tones, disyllabic tone combinations, and tone-conditioning environments such as yi 'one', bu 'not', and neutral tone. Speech was recorded from 19 intermediate participants from six first-language backgrounds (Luganda, Lusoga, Lugisu, Runyankore, Samia, and Lugbarati), and the resulting recordings provided the data. The data were analyzed acoustically against a native Mandrin Chinese baseline using F0 contour, pitch-range excursion, and duration as the main descriptive measures. The findings show that tonal errors were systematic rather than random. The overall difficulty hierarchy in production of Chinese tone by Ugandan speakers of Chinese was observed in the production of Tone 2, Tone 3, Tone 4, and Tone 1 of Chinese, with the most persistent instability concentrated in the Tone 2 and Tone 3 contrast. Recurrent error patterns included contour overshoot, truncation of Tone 3, delayed rise onset in Tone 2, duration compression, citation-form persistence in sandhi environments (i.e., context-conditioned tone alternation), and failure to reduce neutral tone appropriately. Error distribution also varied accross L1 backgrounds and become more pronounced in disyllabic and morphophonemic contexts. The study argues that these patterns are explained through Pitch Perception Model (PPM), since tone-production difficulty was closely related to perceptual salience, contour complexity, pitch-register control, temporal support, and contextual tone pressure. The study contributes empirical evidence from an underrepresented Ugandan context and suggests that Chinese tone instruction should prioritize the Tone 2 and Tone 3 contrast, contour timing, and context-sensitive tonal realization.
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    Examining Ankole toponyms : etymology, evaluative morphosemantics and evolution
    (Makerere University, 2026) Bikorwomuhangi, Leonard
    This dissertation focuses on examining Ankole toponyms particularly their origin, evaluative morphosemantics and their evolution. Although evaluative morphology has been largely studied as an independent linguistic feature, this research examined it within a context of toponymic formation of Ankole. The aim of the study was to show how language is crucial in shaping people’s perspectives in the formation of Ankole toponyms. The specific objectives of this study were; ⅰ) to explore the etymology of the selected Ankole toponyms; ⅱ) to investigate the role of evaluative markers in the selected Ankole toponyms; ⅲ) to examine the changes in selected Ankole toponyms. In this study, I used a qualitative approach involving data collection methods of interviewing, text analysis and note taking. I used the thematic based triangulation approach; the findings were cross referenced for validity and reliability. Out of 26 toponyms available in my designated scope, 15 toponyms were purposively selected for analysis. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, it attested to the radial models of the broad Cognitive Semantics Theory and Social Cultural Dynamic Theory. The two cognitive semantic approaches, namely, Radial Model Category of Diminutive by Jurafsky (1996) and Radial Model of Augmentative by Prieto (2005), were adopted to establish the semantic extensions in the evaluative morphological markers in Ankole toponyms. Likewise, the social cultural dynamic theory also guided in explaining how historical experience, cultural values, community perception influence naming, reinterpretation and the continued use of Ankole toponyms. The findings reveal that beyond encoding quantitative attributes of size, intensity or magnitude, these evaluative markers convey emotional attitudes associated with a place in Ankole society. The findings further provide evidence that Ankole place names can be traced back to a variety of sources, including the environment, the economic activities of Ankole people, the systems of governance used in Ankole society, and the spiritual and mythological traditions of Ankole society. Furthermore, the findings from this study indicate that due to changes in the environment, sacred reinterpretation or recasting, migration, urbanization and socio-economic developments over different periods of time, the names and meanings given to Ankole toponyms shift and develop through these various processes and events. The study contributes to the broad field of onomastics by showing how evaluative markers embedded in the structure of toponyms can encode people’s judgements toward a place name. The study however recommends a comparative study on evaluative morphology involving toponyms from languages closely related to Runyankore like Runyoro-Rutooro, Lusoga and Luganda to see whether they share some features.
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    Framing corruption : a case study of New Vision’s coverage of the iron sheets scandal (2023-2024)
    (Makerere University, 2025) Karamagi, Godfrey
    This study analysed how the New Vision newspaper covered the iron sheets corruption scandal in Uganda between 2023 and 2024. The general objective was to examine the press coverage of the scandal, with specific objectives to: (1) establish how New Vision covered the iron sheets scandal; (2) identify the generic frames used in the coverage of the scandal; and (3) explore the factors that influenced the coverage of the scandal. A case study research design was adopted. The study used a mixed-methods explanatory sequential approach. The study combined quantitative content analysis of 50 newspaper articles with qualitative in-depth interviews of reporters and editors, with findings integrated at the interpretation stage, where the qualitative data explained and contextualised the quantitative results. The study was guided by framing theory, with agenda setting theory employed as a complementary framework to explain issue salience and prominence in the coverage. The findings indicate that media coverage plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and promoting public accountability. Although the scandal initially received substantial coverage, its prominence declined over time as other news stories emerged, even though the framing remained relatively consistent. Five generic frames were identified: attribution of responsibility, conflict, economic consequences, human interest and morality. The attribution of responsibility frame was dominant, with coverage largely neutral in tone and heavily reliant on official sources, particularly the police. The study concludes that reporting on corruption in Uganda is shaped by institutional pressures, access to information and government influence, highlighting the need for media independence and professional ethics.
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    From print to digital: evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the Ugandan press
    (Makerere University, 2026) Rugyendo, Arinaitwe Deogratias.
    The evolution, adoption, and contribution of electronic newspapers (ePapers) remain underexplored in Global South media scholarship, particularly Uganda. Existing literature often conflates ePapers with social media or frames them as threats to print journalism, overlooking their distinct potential. A key unanswered question is whether ePapers can viably deliver traditional newspaper services amid digital transition. This study addresses that gap by examining the case of New Vision and exploring factors responsible for the evolution of ePapers, the drivers behind theuir adoption and their contribution in the Ugandan press. Grounded in technological determinism, social shaping of technology, and critical political economy, the study highlights how technological innovation, socio-economic pressures, and institutional dynamics shape the evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the press. Using key informant interviews and netnography, findings reveal that technology and socio-cultural factors such as the Structural Adjust Programmes of the 1990s, internet/ telecommunications penetration, social media, and COVID-19, are central to ePaper uptake in the Global South. ePapers have transformed news dissemination, redefined economic models, elevated digital archival journalism, and offer potential resistance to press censorship. The study introduces an ePaper Business Viability Model offering insights into sustainable revenue and digital resilience for newspapers in the Global South. Recommendations include further research on the digital divide, cultural-technological intersections, and more case studies. The study further recommends that newspapers should improve accessibility, innovate content formats, monetize archives, and integrate Artificial Intelligence into their ePapers for better results. Strategic partnerships with other industries are essential. Policy interventions must prioritize broadband infrastructure, digital literacy, media freedoms, and fair competition to foster public-private collaboration and digital transition. This study contributes to rethinking digital press viability in Uganda and offers a roadmap for sustainable media transformation across similar contexts.