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Research Data Management in Institutions of Higher Education in Uganda: A Neglected Business
(The Uganda Higher Education Review, 2023-12-06) Ongaya, Kizito; Bagarukayo, Emily; Oyo, Benedict; Okello-Owiny, David
This research examines research data management (RDM) in six Ugandan universities, its awareness, existence, and management, as well as ownership questions among senior staff members. The paper hypothesises that research data management is a new concept in Uganda universities and explores views on potential locations suitable for setting up the system within university structures. The stratified purposive sampling and snowballing methods were used over Google Forms. The key findings are that at least 74.8% of the staff believe it is a new concept and that their universities do not have initiatives to establish it; while 52.6% of the staff believe the ownership of research data should rest with the authors. There are varying views on the roles of various departments and potential host locations for research data management. The research limitation was that much as practices are not properly established in departments within university structures in Uganda, more research could be done to find out how research data is managed by individuals, projects or departments. The practical implication is the need for the establishment of a model research data management centre from which universities, government parastatals as well as organisations can learn. The paper makes a strong case for Ugandan higher education institutions to establish a department for research data management.
Ontology of Plagiarism: the Non Academic Perspectives
(International Journal of Advanced Research, 2024-01-23) Ongaya, Kizito; Alidri, Agatha; Bagarukayo, Emily; Oyo, Benedict; Bazibu, Charles M.; Luyimbazi, Godfrey
Existence of plagiarism is an occupation of education in two dimensions: for learning and a mental process construct of lack of acknowledgement of innovations in learning. Unfortunately, the common concepts of plagiarism has not been clarified in learning process. This paper argues that plagiarism is an inherent natural process of learning. With the objectives; to examine the intrinsic nature of plagiarism and to explore the trans-disciplinary existence of plagiarism in human knowledge as categorised by Dewey Classification scheme 000-999. The study applied positivist paradigm and investigated the existence in relationship between learning processes and plagiarism. The study quantitatively measured opinions of 28 participants in these processes using the Likert scale. Dewey Decimal Classification Systems was used to examine epistemic harnessing of plagiarism in the advancement of different disciplines. The findings were that plagiarism is a natural, intrinsic process of learning through which research, innovations and evolution builds on. The paper concludes by putting a case that acknowledgement and development of referencing and citation technologies are evidence of ontological realities of plagiarism and evidence of the learning process.
Policy Challenges in Establishing Institutional Repository:
(Consortium of Uganda University Libraries, Annual Conference Proceeding, 2023, 2023) Ongaya, Kizito; Bagarukayo, Emily; Oyo, Benedict; Okello-Owiny, David
While many universities are establishing institutional repositories to improve their online presence, there are policy challenges associated with the implementation of this innovation across universities in Uganda. The paper examines policy challenges associated with institutional repositories in 6 universities in Uganda. The study used exploratory method, with simple random stratified snow balling method over google forms. The findings shows that the ownership debate of institutional repositories is far from conclusion in institutions of higher learning with over 50% of respondents asserting that the university as an institution should own all publication and research data. On the other hand, they also believe that authors should be the principal owners of contents of their repositories. Availing publication on repository is also unsettling matter with 89.4% of scholars claiming rights of distribution irrespective of publisher’s restriction, while majority of scholars believe the Main Libraries in a university should take responsibility of dissemination, departments and individual authors are equally responsible for dissemination. Opinions are extremely divided on patent rights ownership across universities, faculties and departments. There is need for higher educational institutions to answer these unsettling questions by comprehensive stakeholders’ engagement in formulating policies that govern institutional repositories.
Towards a Spatial-Temporal Model of Prevalence of Nodding Syndrome and Epilepsy
(Springer, 2019) Ongaya, Kizito; Ssemalullu, Paul; Oyo, Benedict; Maiga, Gilbert; Aturinde, Augustus
Nodding syndrome is an emerging disease which have unknown transmission patterns and no properly established mechanisms for diagnosis leading to numerous hypothetical postulations. It has affected thousands of children in Uganda with debilitating effect and serious economic consequences. Spatial temporal analysis may provide a quick mechanism to establish comparative understanding of the various hypotheses ascribed to nodding syndrome and any other emerging diseases with similar clinical manifestation. There is considerable suspicion that “nodding syndrome is a form of epilepsy”, a hypothesis that has hardly been investigated in literature. The aim of the study described in this paper is to establish spatial-temporal relationships between ailments diagnosed as nodding syndrome and ailments diagnosed as epilepsy. An exploratory cross section survey in three districts of Northern Uganda was done. Spatial data of health centers were recorded and ArcGIS was used for display. The findings show significant spatial temporal correlation of diagnosis reporting of nodding syndrome to epilepsy. The regression statistics overall, epilepsy significantly (p < 0.05) ex-plains about 58% of Nodding syndrome variability. The F-statistic shows a very highly significant value (p = 8.20481E-13; p < 0.05), meaning that the output of the regression is not by chance.
Mapping of Prevalence of Nodding Syndrome and Associated Epilepsy Reporting in Uganda: Spatial – Temporal Approach
(AGILE, 2018-12-15) Ongaya, Kizito; Oyo, Benedict; Ssemaluulu, Paul; Maiga, Gilbert
In recent years, transmission of diseases has exhibited new spatial and temporal patterns. Emerging diseases are being discovered more often. Some have unknown transmission patterns and mechanisms for diagnosis. This results to numerous hypothetical postulations just as in the case of nodding syndrome which has affected thousands of children in Uganda. Spatial-temporal analysis may provide a quick mechanism to establish comparative understanding of the various hypotheses ascribed to an emerging disease. This situation, is particularly seen in nodding syndrome where there is considerable suspicion that nodding syndrome is a form of epilepsy. Little literature is available on spatial-temporal comparison between incidences of these two ailments. The aim of this paper is to establish spatial-temporal relationships between ailments diagnosed as nodding syndrome and ailments diagnosed as epilepsy. We carried out an exploratory survey in three districts of Northern Uganda. Spatial data of health centres were recorded and ArcGIS was used for display. Our findings established that, there was significant spatial-temporal relationship of diagnosis reporting of nodding syndrome and epilepsy. The study concludes that the surveillance mechanisms for nodding syndrome established in 2012 are effective. At the same time, the study affirms that in the event of occurrence of an emerging disease, when there is no established clinical diagnosis, geographical information systems approach is an effective alternative investigation mechanism to establish relationships between hypothetically similar outbreaks.
Towards a Spatial-Temporal Model of Prevalence of Nodding Syndrome and Epilepsy
(ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2019-12-05) Ongaya, Kizito
Nodding syndrome is an emerging disease which have unknown transmission patterns and no properly established mechanisms for diagnosis leading to numerous hypothetical postulations. It has affected thousands of children in Uganda with debilitating effect and serious economic consequences. Spatial temporal analysis may provide a quick mechanism to establish comparative understanding of the various hypotheses ascribed to nodding syndrome and any other emerging diseases with similar clinical manifestation. There is considerable suspicion that “nodding syndrome is a form of epilepsy”, a hypothesis that has hardly been investigated in literature. The aim of the study described in this paper is to establish spatial-temporal relationships between ailments diagnosed as nodding syndrome and ailments diagnosed as epilepsy. An exploratory cross section survey in three districts of Northern Uganda was done. Spatial data of health centers were recorded and ArcGIS was used for display. The findings show significant spatial temporal correlation of diagnosis reporting of nodding syndrome to epilepsy. The regression statistics overall, epilepsy significantly (p < 0.05) ex-plains about 58% of Nodding syndrome variability. The F statistic shows a very highly significant value (p = 8.20481E-13; p < 0.05), meaning that the output of the regression is not by chance.
Conceptual Modeling of Nodding Syndrome: A System Dynamics and Sequence Approaches
(2018-01) Ongaya, Kizito; Ssemaluulu, Paul; Oyo, Benedict; Bongomin, Pido
Conceptual modelling of nodding syndrome (NS) has hardly been considered in most scientific literature although symptoms of the disease have been widely studied. A conceptual model is a representation of hypothesis about a system under investigation and enables a comparison between hypothesis and data. Since nodding syndrome is an unexplained neurological illness that mainly affects children aged between 5 to 15 years, without specific diagnosis and treatment, the aetiology remains unknown and under investigation, conceptual modelling may be a crucial ingredient in understanding the disease. The purpose of the study is therefore, to represent nodding syndrome occurrence and immune-pathogenic pathways in the causation of nodding syndrome using system dynamics approaches. We have used systematic review method to filter literature on nodding syndrome from the year. We also used Systems Dynamic Approach and we emphasized confirmed scientific investigation to enable the relationships conform to reality. Vensim software was preferred for implementation of the casual-loop diagrams. Microsoft Office Visio 2007 was identified as suitable for implementation of the sequence conceptual model of nodding syndrome for its ability to show interactions between electrolytes and other actors. Our findings were that system dynamics approach has not been used research of nodding syndrome. More so, conceptual modeling was not considered by most articles.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Nodding Syndrome in Northern Uganda 1990-2014
(Scientific Science Publishing, 2020-02-17) Ongaya, Kizito; Aturinde, Augustus; Farnaghi, Mahdi; Mansourian, Ali; Maiga, Gilbert; Oyo, Benedict; Bagarukayo, Emily
The emergence of nodding syndrome (NS) in Northern Uganda has generated controversial views with respect to patterns, natural history, and aetiology of the disease which is yet unknown. This study explored spatial patterns of NS using spatialtemporal methods to establish its clustering patterns across both space and time. Village and year of NS onset for individual patients between the years 1990 and 2014 were entered as input for spatial and temporal analysis in the 6 districts in northern Uganda where it is prevalent. Our temporal results showed that NS onset started before the population was moved in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) ca mps. It also shows that NS continued to be reported during the IDPs and after people had left the IDPs. Our spatial and spatiotemporal analysis showed that two periods had persistent NS clusters. These were 2000-2004 and 20102014, coinciding with the peri od when the population was in the IDP camps and when the population was already out of the camps, respectively. Our conclusion is that the view of associating NS outbreak with living conditions in IDP camps is thus coincidental. We, therefore, contend that the actual aetiological factor of NS is still at large.
Students’ Prior Knowledge and Skills in Computer and Internet Use: An Exploration of Incoming First Year Undergraduate Health Sciences Students at Gulu University, Uganda
(Journal of Health Information and Librarianship, 2020-06) Onen Yagos, Walter; Tabo-Olok, Geoffrey; Ovuga, Emilio
Internet has provided infrastructure that enables access to a variety of information resources for use by medical students at Gulu University in Northern Uganda. However, little attention has been put to explore prior internet knowledge of undergraduate medical students in Uganda. Cross-sectional research design was used. Fifty-six first year undergraduate health sciences students participated in the study. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Results shows that a majority of the participants had prior knowledge of computer 48 (86.0%) and internet 44 (79.0%). 38 (68.0%) participants had access to internet and 34 (61.0%) owned computer before joining the University. Majority owned mobile phones 41 (73.0%) and used it for internet access 43 (84.0%). Use of internet was high in social media 46 (86.8) and searching general information 44 (84.6%). Participants expected easy access to teaching materials 52 (94.5%) and communication 49 (90.7%) via internet. These findings suggest need for healthcare librarians to train incoming medical students on use of ICTs; including social media platforms and mobile phones to improve their ICT literacy skills to enable them access the best academic information resources to enhance medical education.
The roles of academic libraries in propagating open science: A qualitative literature review
(SAGE, 2018) Ogungbeni, J. I; Obiamalu, A. R; Ssemambo, S.; & Bazibu, C. M.
This study investigates the roles of academic libraries in propagating Open Science. The study is a qualitative survey based on literature review. Various definitions of open science from different scholars and schools of thought were examined. Research articles on the effects of open science on research and the place of academic libraries in scientific research were reviewed. Open science enhances collaborations and sharing of resources among researchers. Metadata related activities are more prevalent due to open science. Open science has increased the relevance of science to our environment and world issues like privacy and the rightful author of scientific data are still some of the challenges facing open science. Academic libraries continue to take steps to be involved as key players in the propagation of open science through advocacy, building of institutional data repositories and serving as hubs for scientific collaboration among others. Academic libraries have to do more in the area of advocacy and provision of data repositories.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities towards neurocysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda
(Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology, 6/4/2020) Alarakol, S. P.; Bagaya, B. S.; Yagos, Walter Onen; Odongo Aginya, E. I.
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the hematogenous inversion of brain by the larval stage of pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among communities in two districts of Northern Uganda. A community based cross sectional study was conducted between February to March 2019 in two Sub-Counties of Amuru and Gulu districts. Multistage sampling and lottery methods were used to select the study sites and the respondents, respectively. Data was collected from 296 participants. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Fifty six percent (56%) of the participant had moderate knowledge about NCC. Respondents with satisfactory level of attitude and practices were 52.3 and 51%, respectively. Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents eat pork. Majority (94.3%) of the respondents always wash their hands after visiting toilets. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the respondents agreed that epileptic patients should marry but seventy (70%) reported that they should not go to school. Majority (80%) of the respondents reported that NCC patients should be taken to hospital for medical care. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed sex (P=0.017, OR=1.27(95%CI: 1.04-1.54), level of education (P=0.006, OR= 4.451(95%CI: 1.49-12.20) and occupation (P=0.03, OR=3.843(95%CI: 1.13-12.71) were more significantly associated with knowledge on NCC. Sex (P = 0.013, OR= 1.88 (95%CI: 1.14- 3.10), level of education (P= 0.031, OR= 5.43(95%CI: 1.17-25.20) was significantly associated with positive attitudes towards patients with NCC. Male exhibited better practices towards patients with NCC (P<0.05). The findings indicate that there is a limited knowledge on NCC among the rural communities in the district of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda. In addition, the findings show that the communities practice risky behaviors that promote development of NCC in the region. The intervention of health authorities in this area is required for the prevention and/or control NCC in the region.
Prevalence and risk factor associated with Taenia solium cysticercosis among pig farmers in two districts (Amuru and Gulu) in Northern Uganda
(Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology, 11/30/2020) Alarakol, S. P.; Bagaya, B. S.; Yagos, Walter Onen; Aginya, E. I. Odongo
Taenia solium cysticercosis is a serious public health issue affecting humans in developing countries. The disease affects the rural economies due to the loss in productivity associated with human ill-health and condemnations of infected pork carcasses by the veterinarians. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu in Northern Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted among households rearing pigs in Amuru and Gulu districts in Northern Uganda from March to June, 2019. A total of 569 pigs and 300 households were studied. Data on prevalence and risk factors for T. solium cysticercosis was collected using lingual examinations and questionnaires, respectively. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s Chi square. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was at 13.6% (96% CI: 8.6-18.6). The risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis transmission in Gulu and Amuru were sex (P=0.044, OR=5.41 (95%CI:1.04-15.24)), pig keeping, (P=0.00, OR=0.56 (95%CI: 0.012-0.25)), routine deworming (P=0.04,OR=1.13 (95%CI:0.032-0.35)) and pig free range (P=0.03, OR=3.843 (95%CI: 1.13-12.71)) and open defecation (P=0.003, OR=0.322(95%CI: 0.003-3.058)). The findings from the current study indicate that the prevalence of porcine T. solium cysticercosis is endemic in Gulu district. The porcine cysticercosis is being influenced by pig farmers, lack of deworming, free range pigs, and allowing pigs to feed on human faeces. There is need for the local to authorities to strengthen public health education on pig husbandry practices and routine meat inspection at these facilities by the health authorities in the region.

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