Department of Computing, Library and Information Technology [CLIT] collections

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/20.500.12284/150

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Students’ and Lecturers’ Perspectives on Podcasting as a Learning Tool :
(International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science, 2024-10) Kobusiingye Florah; Richard Sembatya; Fred Kaggwa
Podcasting has emerged as a transformative tool in education, renowned for its ability to foster flexibility, accessibility, and interactivity among learners and educators. This study investigates the perspectives of students and lecturers at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) regarding the use of podcasting as a learning tool. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research examines the perceived benefits, challenges, and preferences associated with podcasting in higher education. Quantitative data reveal that 82% of participants reported enhanced engagement, while 79% highlighted improved understanding of course materials facilitated by podcasting. Qualitative findings underscore its role in accommodating diverse learning styles and bridging accessibility gaps for students in remote areas. Despite these benefits, significant challenges persist, including inadequate infrastructure, limited internet connectivity, and resistance to adopting new technologies. The study concludes with actionable recommendations, emphasizing the need for robust ICT infrastructure, capacity-building initiatives, and the integration of podcasting into academic curricula to maximize its potential in enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.
An Assessment of the Effect of Climate Resilient Agricultural Practices towards Food Security in Oruchinga Camp, Isingiro District
(Bishop Stuart University, 2024-09) Boris Beinomugisha
This study was about assessing the effect of climate resilient agricultural practices towards food security in Oruchinga camp-Isingiro District. Climate-resilient agricultural practices are the approaches that includes sustainability with existing natural resources through crop and livestock production systems to achieve long-term higher productivity and farm incomes under climate variability. The study established the different climate resilient agricultural practices used by smallholder farmers within the settlement camp, determine the effect of selected climate resilient agricultural practices on the food production systems of the local’s, establish the potential factors limiting the adoption of climate resilient agricultural practices and recommend available adaptation possibilities that can aid craft resilience to climate change and variability. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches for data collection. Information was gathered from a sample of 322 respondents and 10 key informants using self-administered questionnaire and interviews respectively. Data was analyzed using Microsoft EXCEL 2016 and SPSS Version 21.0 was used to run t-test to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study identified the different climate resilient agricultural practices used by smallholder farmers within the settlement camp such as; agro forestry, use of improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, water-smart technologies, soil fertility management, use of compost and organic pesticides and small scale irrigation. The study also found out that climate resilient agricultural practices like agro forestry, water-smart technologies, use of improved crop varieties, soil fertility management and use of compost and organic pesticides had a statistically significant effect on food production systems in the camp. The study further found out that capacity building through training and skills development, agroforestry promotion, promotion of labour saving technologies, promotion of climate resistant crop and animal varieties, increasing water supply, boosting community education and awareness programs, integrated pest and disease control as well as widening extension coverage could be adaptation possibilities that could aid craft resilience to climate change and variability in the area. In conclusion, the study confirmed that there are different climate resilient agricultural practices being used by farmers in the area and these practices have significantly supported food production systems. The small sized land was one of the main reasons why farmers fail to use recommended CRA practices, therefore increasing on production per unit area through opening new arable land areas would mean that farmers have enough spaces to try new technologies/practices.
Implementation of a Peer Assessment Framework for Online Group Based Assessment in Higher Institutions of Learning
(International Journal of Computing and Engineering, 2025-05) Job Kalema; Jane Katusiime; Simon Kawuma; Deborah Natumanya
Purpose: The increasing use of online collaborative learning in higher education presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the implementation of peer assessment (PA) systems. This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework for implementing peer assessment (PA) in online collaborative learning environments within higher education. It seeks to enhance student engagement, foster collaborative skills, and improve learning outcomes by addressing the challenges associated with PA implementation. Methodology: In this study, we employed the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model (DeLone & McLean, 2003) as a theoretical framework to guide the development and evaluation of the proposed peer assessment (PA) framework to support group-based assessment in eLearning environments. Findings: Communication channels played a crucial role, with satisfaction scores rising from 2.75 (low communication) to 4.25 (strong communication) when effective channels were in place. Instructor feedback emerged as an important predictor, with students rating their experience higher when feedback was provided. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Integrating monitoring tools and enhancing system customization will be crucial for improving the effectiveness of peer assessment in online learning. As such, educational institutions must invest in both technology and professional development to ensure the successful implementation of collaborative learning tools.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Online Peer Assessment Frameworks for Group-Based Assessment in Higher Institutions of Learning
(Indonesian Journal of Innovation and Applied Sciences (IJIAS), 2025-02) Job Kalema; Jane Katusiime; Simon Kawuma; Deborah Natumanya
This study assesses the effectiveness of online peer assessment frameworks in higher institutions of learning through a quantitative analysis. The research explores the relationships between several dimensions of online peer assessment, comprising participant engagement, perceived challenges, and the effectiveness of online collaborative tools. Employing a sample of 154 participants, data were collected via surveys, and statistical methods, including factor analysis, t-tests, and regression analysis, were applied to examine the results. The findings indicate a generally positive perception of online peer assessment, with significant correlations between technical support and user satisfaction. The effects of these results highlight the need for higher institutions of learning to address technical challenges and improve support mechanisms to improve the effectiveness of online peer assessment frameworks.
Effects of Changing Weather Patterns on Household Food Security in Bukiro Sub County, Mbarara District
(Bishop Stuart University, 2024) Nuwasasira John Francis
Changing weather patterns and their variables are already negatively impacting food security by damaging crops, reducing yields, and increasing the prevalence of pests and diseases. These pests and diseases contend with crops for sunlight, water, and nutrients, further diminishing agricultural yields and creating issues for crops that were previously unexposed to these threats. Climate-related disruptions in food distribution and transportation, both internationally and domestically, have a substantial impact on not just safety and quality but also access to food. Prolonged dry spells followed by heavy and stormy rains cause interruptions in food production and transportation, reducing farmers' ability to get their grains to market and potentially affecting food prices. The study examined the effects of changing weather patterns on food security in smallholder households in Bukiro Sub County, Mbarara District. The objectives of the study were to a) establish the effects of changing weather patterns on food security among households) establish the coping strategies towards effects of changing weather patterns on food security by the smallholder households and c) propose the mitigation and adaptation strategies towards the effects of changing weather patterns on food security among households in Bukiro Sub County. This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of effects of changing weather patterns on food security and their coping strategies, mitigation and adaptation strategies towards effects of changing weather patterns in smallholder households in Bukiro Sub County, Mbarara District. A sample of 100 smallholder farmers were randomly selected from four parishes of Bukiro sub county and studied using questionnaire and observations. key informants were also conducted with six technical workers and three opinion leaders The research utilized quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection. . software STAT 26 and Ms excel version 2016 were used to do data analysis. Quantitative data collection focused on gathering numerical data collected through structured questions and used to aggregate data and generate statistics based on respondents’ opinions and/or perceptions. Qualitative data collection involved use of interviews to capture in-depth information that was not captured through the questionnaires. The study incorporated descriptive statistics to present respondents’ opinion in the study regarding addressing the research questions. The study utilized quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis where information was obtained using questionnaires surveys on 100 smallholder farmers and interviews on key informants (9). The collected qualitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 26, presented in frequency tables, graphs and charts, and interpreted accordingly while narrative analysis method was used to analyse the qualitative data. The study xi found out that changing weather patterns through its variables specifically heavy and stormy rains, late of set of rains, and prolonged dry spells had significant effects on food security The perceived effects of changing weather patterns established were drying up of water sources(83.8%) Decreased land for crop growing 82.4%, reduction in crop yields 77.7%, drying of pastures for animals (67.4%), drying of crops 58.1%, and occurrence of crop and livestock pests and diseases at 56.6%. Also, the perceived weather changing variabilities were late onset of rains 60.1%, prolonged dry spells were responded 17.6% and heavy and stormy rains 22.3%. From the study finding farmers clearly perceived that changing weather patterns had negative effects smallholders’ agricultural production systems impacting negatively on food security.The study findings revealed that changing weather patterns, specifically the parameters of heavy rains and storms had a significant effect on food accessibility. Households that experienced heavy rains and storms faced difficulties in accessing food. The study findings also revealed that changing weather patterns, specifically late onset of rains and heavy rains and storms had a significant effect on food stability in Bukiro sub county. Findings further established that changing weather patterns, specifically late onset of rains had a significant effect on food utilisation in Bukiro sub county. Households that experienced it utilized the food they had due to uncertainties on how the rains would last and their intensity to cause need to grow crops. The study concluded that late onset of rains and heavy rains and storms are the changing weather patterns with the most significant threat to food security in Bukiro Sub County. The study recommended that weather resistant crops should be grown to minimize crop damages that come with unexpected changing weather patterns to improving food production. The study further recommended that people should increase on climate smart practices, ecological land use management practices and improved post-harvest handling technologies as a mitigation measure to heavy and stormy rains because few smallholder farmers were using them. The researcher also recommended effective capacity building to strengthen the most vulnerable groups in agricultural production, who are usually the smallholder farmers, with requisite knowledge and information necessary for weather change mitigation and adaptation.
A Critical Analysis of Distributed Systems with a focus on the Distributed Data Management in Edge Computing Environment
(2024) Calorine, Katushabe
The emerging of distributed systems such as Distributed Computing, Grid, Jungle, Fog, Edge, Cloud computing systems, and the future of Inter-Cloud Computing helps to the decreasing of the communication cost in terms of delay and band width consumption while increasing the advances in communications, networking complexity and the advent of big data technology such as proficient knowledge and smart decisions. Edge computing aims to alleviate the load on cloud data centers and minimize delay by making compute and other resources and services available closer to the users. Therefore, in this work, a critical analysis on distributed systems was conducted with a focus on the Distributed Data Management in Edge Computing Environment and it drew its recommendations for future applications such as the Internet of Things.
Review of Peer Assessment Frameworks that Support Group-Based Assessment in E-Learning Environment for Higher Institutions of Learning
(European Journal of Science, Innovation and Technology, 2024) Job Kalema; Jane Katusiime; Simon Kawuma
Assessment remains a fundamental part of the learning experience for students and the way to gauge the extent and quality of students in higher institutions of learning but has moved from assessment processes designed and solely implemented by the teacher to those designed for student engagement and empowerment inflexible assessment and there is increasing interest in the implementation of peer assessment also known in the literature as peer review or feedback assessment. Peer assessment is a promising approach to engage learners in the assessment process and easily integrate into the learning activities. In higher education, peer assessment involves students applying criteria and standards to evaluate the work of their peers. This paper aims to fill the gap in the current body of knowledge by providing a detailed review of peer assessment frameworks that support group-based assessments in e-learning environments
A Critical Analysis of Distributed Systems with a focus on the Distributed Data Management in Edge Computing Environment
(Journal of Development, Education and Technology, 2024) Katushabe, Calorine
The emerging of distributed systems such as Distributed Computing, Grid, Jungle, Fog, Edge, Cloud computing systems, and the future of Inter-Cloud Computing helps to the decreasing of the communication cost in terms of delay and band width consumption while increasing the advances in communications, networking complexity and the advent of big data technology such as proficient knowledge and smart decisions. Edge computing aims to alleviate the load on cloud data centers and minimize delay by making compute and other resources and services available closer to the users. Therefore, in this work, a critical analysis on distributed systems was conducted with a focus on the Distributed Data Management in Edge Computing Environment and it drew its recommendations for future applications such as the Internet of Things.
Internet of things based visualisation of effect of air pollution on the lungs using HEPA filters air cleaner
(Heliyon, 2023) Katushabe, Caroline; Kumaran, Santhi; Masabo, Emmanuel
The impact of air quality on human health and the environment is very significant, with poor air quality being responsible for numerous deaths and environmental damage worldwide. Whereas a number of studies have been done to monitor the quality of air with help of emerging technologies, little has been done to visualize its effect on health particularly on the lungs. The study explores an approach that combines Internet of Things (IoT) technology with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters air cleaner to monitor and visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health, highlighting the significant damage that poor air quality causes particularly on the lungs graphically. To achieve this, a 3D display of the lungs is modelled using HEPA filters, which changes colour based on the air pollutant concentrations detected by IoT based sensors. The collected air quality data is then transmitted to Thingspeak, a visualization platform for further analysis. It is observed that the colour of the 3D lung display changed to black over time as air pollutant concentrations increased which in our study is an indicator of unhealthy lung. The study presents an innovative approach to visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health using IoT and HEPA filters air cleaner, which could have significant implications for public health policies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution, particularly on lung health.
Internet of things based visualisation of effect of air pollution on the lungs using HEPA filters air cleaner
(Heliyon, 2023) Calorine, Katushabe; Santhi, Kumaran; Emmanuel, Masabo
The impact of air quality on human health and the environment is very significant, with poor air quality being responsible for numerous deaths and environmental damage worldwide. Whereas a number of studies have been done to monitor the quality of air with help of emerging technologies, little has been done to visualize its effect on health particularly on the lungs. The study explores an approach that combines Internet of Things (IoT) technology with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters air cleaner to monitor and visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health, highlighting the significant damage that poor air quality causes particularly on the lungs graphically. To achieve this, a 3D display of the lungs is modelled using HEPA filters, which changes colour based on the air pollutant concentrations detected by IoT based sensors. The collected air quality data is then transmitted to Thingspeak, a visualization platform for further analysis. It is observed that the colour of the 3D lung display changed to black over time as air pollutant concentrations increased which in our study is an indicator of unhealthy lung. The study presents an innovative approach to visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health using IoT and HEPA filters air cleaner, which could have significant implications for public health policies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution, particularly on lung health
Fuzzy Based Prediction Model for Air Quality Monitoring for Kampala City in East Africa
(MDPI, 2021-07-19) Calorine, Katushabe; Santhi, Kumaran; Emmanuel, Masabo
: The quality of air affects lives and the environment at large. Poor air quality has claimed many lives and distorted the environment across the globe, and much more severely in African countries where air quality monitoring systems are scarce or even do not exist. Here in Africa, dirty air is brought about by the growth in industrialization, urbanization, flights, and road traffic. Air pollution remains such a silent killer, especially in Africa, and if not dealt with, it will continue to lead to health issues, such as heart conditions, stroke, and chronic respiratory organ unwellness, which later result in death. In this paper, the Kampala Air Quality Index prediction model based on the fuzzy logic inference system was designed to determine the air quality for Kampala city, according to the air pollutant concentrations (nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter 2.5). It is observed that fuzzy logic algorithms are capable of determining the air quality index and therefore, can be used to predict and estimate the air quality index in real time, based on the given air pollutant concentrations. Hence, this can reduce the effects of air pollution on both humans and the environment.
Towards University Semester and Examinations Regulations Model Verification
(International Journal of Computer Applications, 2016-07) Calorine, Katushabe; Nabaasa, Evarist; Abubaker, Nyanzi
This paper reviewed the Mbarara University of Science and Technology semester and examinations regulations handbook and diagrammatically identified a number of flaws in the model. The next phase of this research is to identify parameters at each state in the model and redesign the model so as to try and eliminate or minimize the identified flaws by carrying out model checking for both the current model and the new model to be designed.
Effect of Climate Change on Soil Health and Implications on Food Security
(INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TECHNOVATION, 2021-11-05) Wycliffe, Tumwesigye; Johnson, Atwiine; Bobe, Bedadi
Climate change and soil health are intertwined complex processes that affect each other. The aim of this review was to find out the impact of climate change on soil health, its implication on food security and human welfare across the globe. The study found out that soil health is affected by land use practices and several anthropogenic activities carried out on landscapes; climate change and variability. Soil health also contributes to soil water retention, crop productivity, households’ food and income security culminating into a large contribution towards achieving sustainable development goals across the globe. Soil components affect climate and climate affects soil health and human wellbeing. The review article concluded that climate change and soil health are complex and intertwined multidisciplinary processes that require multidisciplinary approaches for better understanding and improvement of crop production. Appropriate climate smart agricultural practices are recommended to enhance soil health and mitigate and adapt to the changing climate for the improved farmers’ income, food security and human wellbeing across the globe.

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