Gulu University Digital Repository (GU-IR)
GU-IR preserves research output from the Gulu University community
Communities in GU-IR
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LEBLANGO AND FRENCH VOWEL SOUNDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR LEBLANGO SPEAKERS OF FRENCH AS A THIRD LANGUAGE
(2026-10-08) Opio Bosco
This study, titled “A Comparative Study of Leblango and French Vowel Sounds: Implications for Leblango Speakers of French as a Third Language (L3)”, compared the vowel systems of Leblango and French and examined their impact on French vowel pronunciation by L1 Leblango speakers. The analysis was conducted using the parameters of vowel height, backness, rounding, nasality, and distribution. The study employed a descriptive survey and comparative research design within a framework combining the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis and Autosegmental Phonology. Data were collected from 20 advanced French speakers from the Lango sub-region, selected via purposive sampling. The study used audio-recorded conversational modules and reading activities. French reference data were sourced from the Corpus de Français Parlé Parisien des années 2000 (CFPP2000). The findings reveal that Leblango and French share the oral vowels /a, e, ɛ, i, ɔ, o, u, ə/ and the nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɛ̃/. The primary differences are the presence in French of front rounded vowels /y/, /ø/, /œ/ and the distinct nasal vowels /œ̃/ and /ɑ̃/, which are absent in Leblango. These similarities could be said to have facilitated the accurate pronunciation of shared French vowels, such as /i/ in si and /ɔ̃/ in bon. Conversely, the differences could be said to have led to systematic challenges, resulting in substitutions like the realization of /y/ as [u] in tu and /œ̃/ as [ɛ̃] in un. The study recommends that French language teachers in the Lango sub-region familiarize themselves with both vowel systems and adopt pedagogical methods that explicitly address these phonological contrasts, and utilize targeted listening, pronunciation exercise, and contrastive drills to enhance learners' proficiency.
THE CHANGING PATTERN OF ACOLI TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN LAMWO DISTRICT: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FROM 1910 - 2020
(Gulu University, 2024) ORAC JIMMY
This study aimed to investigate the changing pattern of Acoli traditional marriage in Lamwo district. The research was guided by the following objectives: to find out nature of Acoli traditional marriage, to explore the new forms and nature of marriage in Acoli society, and to find out the reasons for the changing pattern of Acoli traditional marriage. A case study approach was employed. A sample of 75 respondents were selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques from a total population of 85 individuals. Data was collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The data was analyzed in line with the research objectives and subsequently converted into text format. The findings revealed that the nature of Acoli traditional marriage have remained with minor changes. The study also found that there are new forms of marriage within the Acoli societies in Lamwo. The research also indicated factors such as employment, financial status, and educational level causing changes to tradition marriage. The study concludes that Acoli traditional marriage in Lamwo have undergone limited alterations, it further concludes that there are new forms of marriages practiced by the Acoli people. Furthermore, the research concludes that employment, financial stability, and educational background are key factors contributing to these changes in marriage.
PROFILING SLANG EXPRESSIONS IN LANGO
(Gulu University, 2025) KONI AUGUSTINE
This study sought t o profile slang expressions in Lango. The study was carried out in the Langosub-region, an area where Lango is spoken as a native language and currently made up of ten political units of nine districts and one city. It was guided by three specific objectives which were: to provide an inventory of common slang expressions in Lango, to establish the sources of slang expressions in Lango, and to find out the attitude of Lango people towards slang use in Lango. The study used a mixed methods approach and a cross-sectional design, descriptive and comparative designs. The study used purposive sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling methods. Data was collected through conversational modules carried out with nine categories of slang users and focus group discussion which was held once with slang users and once with elders. Data was analysed using MS Excel for quantitative data while content analysis was applied for qualitative data. The findings of the study were that there are a number of slang expressions within Lango and they are continuously evolving within the language. The sources of the slang expressions are mainly three, which are: coinage, semantic extensions, and borrowing, where coined slang are formed through processes like coinage, affixation, clipping,acronym/initialism, and modelling from old expressions, but coinage forms the highest percentage of Coined slang in Lango. The attitude of Lango people is generally positive about slang use and development provided that the slang expressions are positive and meant for use by everyone. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the National Curriculum Development Centre should use the findings of this study to make necessary amendments on the Lango curriculum to accommodate slang expressions for the benefit of the students who are already well versed in slang use; Lango Cultural Foundation should depend on the findings of this study to spearhead mindset change towards slang among the categories of native speakers who may not yet be aware of the positive elements of slang, so as to adopt a positive attitude and embrace the positive use of slang as a linguistic phenomenon, while other researchers should adopt a literacy-based approach to finding out more about slang writing, since this study focused on the oral aspect.
The Unheard Narratives of Children Born in the Lord’s Resistance Army Captivity in Acholi Sub-region, Northern Uganda (1987-2025).
(Gulu University, 2026-10-08) OCHEN PATRICK
Abstract
This study documented the unheard narratives of children born in captivity (CBIC) during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) conflict in the Acholi sub-region of Northern Uganda, 1987–2025. The study pursued four objectives: to interrogate the experiences of CBIC; examine the integration programmes and practices affecting them; investigate the challenges encountered in integration; and assess the effects of those challenges on their lives. Guided by a qualitative constructivist approach and an exploratory historical design, the study used one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions, future-oriented participatory workshops, meetings with women’s organisations, key informant interviews, and documentary review. The primary narrative sample comprised 58 young adults born in LRA captivity, supported by 30 FGD participants and contextual accounts from 17 key informants and participants in workshops and meetings. The findings show that CBIC experienced violence, deprivation, disrupted family and cultural ties, and persistent stigma during and after the conflict. Integration was not absent altogether; rather, it was uneven and fragmented. Uganda’s transitional-justice framework provides a broad basis for social reintegration and reparations, but the policy and documentary evidence reviewed for this study did not show a consistently operationalised, dedicated support package for CBIC. At family and community levels, acceptance varied according to maternal support, clan recognition, cultural practices, education, livelihood opportunities, and individual agency. The main challenges were stigma, family and clan rejection, weak legal identity and documentation, educational and livelihood exclusion, identity disruption, and psychosocial distress. The effects were psychological, social, cultural, economic, and civic, including difficulties in belonging, access to land and services, participation in community life, and engagement with formal institutions. The study concludes that integration should be understood as a long-term process of social, cultural, economic, and civic inclusion rather than simply physical return. It recommends survivor-centred implementation of transitional-justice measures, improved birth registration and identification support, sustained psychosocial services, educational and livelihood opportunities, community and clan dialogue, and meaningful participation of CBIC in programmes and policies that affect them.
DOMESTIC INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN UGANDA: A TIME SERIES ANALYSIS (1985 – 2023).
(Gulu University, 2023-09-22) OLAK KENNETH KAUNDA
This study examines the impact of domestic investment on economic growth in Uganda, focusing
on the roles of public sector investment (PSI), private sector investment (PrSI), and the moderating
effects of monetary policy variables, namely the interest rate (IR) and the exchange rate (EXR).
The study is motivated by the persistent inconsistency between rising investment levels and
fluctuating economic growth in Uganda, raising concerns about the effectiveness and efficiency of
investment in driving sustainable development. Using annual time-series data for 1985–2023,
sourced from the World Development Indicators (World Bank) and the Bank of Uganda, the study
employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling approach with secondary
quantitative data. This method is suitable given the mixed order of integration among variables
and its ability to capture both short-run dynamics and long-run equilibrium relationships. The
analysis was conducted using Stata (version 15). The empirical findings show a statistically
significant long-run relationship among economic growth, public investment, and private
investment. The results indicate that private sector investment has a positive and statistically
significant effect on economic growth in both the short run and the long run, highlighting its critical
role as a driver of economic performance. While the public sector plays a supportive role, the
results show that monetary policy variables exert varying influences on economic growth. Interest
rates have a negative effect, consistent with theoretical expectations that higher borrowing costs
discourage investment, while the exchange rate demonstrates a weak and statistically insignificant
impact. The error correction mechanism confirms a stable adjustment process, although the speed
of adjustment to long-run equilibrium is relatively slow, indicating structural rigidities in the
economy.
The study concludes that the private sector is the dominant contributor to economic growth in
Uganda, while the effectiveness of public investment remains limited. The study’s policy
recommendation recommends policies aimed at enhancing investment in the private sector,
improving the efficiency and allocation of public investment, and maintaining a stable
macroeconomic environment to support sustainable growth. The study contributes to the existing
knowledge by providing Uganda empirical evidence using econometric model and differentiating
between private and public impacts to economic growth.