Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)

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Browsing Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) by Author "Ibrahim, Kasirye"
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    Constraints to agricultural technology adoption in Uganda: Evidence from the 2005/06-2009/10 Uganda National Panel Survey.
    (EPRC, 2013-05-22) Ibrahim, Kasirye
    The study examines the determinants of improved agricultural technologies adoption in Uganda, using a nationally representative panel data set of 1,600 farming households, collected by the Ugandan Bureau of Statistics in 2005/6 and 2009/10. Two agricultural technologies— improved seeds and fertilizer—out of the seven types identified by the study were further considered and analyzed. Estimates from the probit regression model show that farmers with low education and land holdings are less likely to adopt improved seeds and fertilizer, while peer effects play a big role in influencing farmers to either use improved seeds or fertilizer. Furthermore, cattle keeping farmers in Western Uganda are more likely to abandon fertilizers and possibly resort to organic manure from livestock excreta. Policy, therefore, should be directed at addressing the supply side constraints of agricultural technologies. Keywords: Agricultural technologies adoption, Improved seeds and fertilizer, Farming households, Uganda
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    HIV/AIDS prevention interventions in Uganda: A policy simulation.
    (EPRC, 2013-06-23) Gemma, Ahaibwe ; Ibrahim, Kasirye
    The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a major health challenge in Uganda. The adult HIV/ AIDS prevalence rate had increased to 7.3 percent by 2011 from 6.4 percent in 2005/6. Consequently, understanding the programmes that can curb down the spread of the disease is both an economic and a public health priority. Previously, HIV/AIDS control programmes in Uganda have relied on the ABC strategy (Abstinence, Being Faithfull and Condon use). However, as the epidemic matured in Uganda, public health authorities have adopted additional programmes to combat the spread of HIV such as male circumcision and counselling as well as testing. This policy simulation estimates the potential costs and impact of rolling out two HIV prevention methods - Safe Male Circumcision and Voluntary Counseling and Testing- on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Using data from the recent Uganda Aids Indicator Survey 2011 as well as administrative cost data, we estimate the potential costs and impact of expanding the above two methods of HIV/AIDS control. Results from the policy simulation suggest that scalingup safe male circumcision to reach 66% of the uncircumcised males aged 15-49 years would result in averting almost 121,278 new HIV infections through 2020, resulting in an average cost per HIV infection averted of $885 and net cost savings per infection averted of US$ 6,515. On the other hand, scaling up VCT to full coverage (100%) among adults (15-49 years) would result in averting 113,813 new infections through 2020, resulting in an average cost per HIV infection averted of $948 and net savings per infection averted of US$ 6,452.
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    Improving Girls' access to secondary schooling
    ( 2013-06-11) Mildred, Barungi ; Ibrahim, Kasirye
    Despite the successful implementation of the Universal Secondary Education policy in Uganda in 2007, overall secondary school enrolments have remained low, especially for girls. Among other reasons, high cost of schooling is cited as the major constraint limiting access to secondary education. Uganda’s National Development Plan proposes to attain gender equity in secondary school enrolments through the provision of bursaries/stipends to poor girls to enable them attend school. In this study, we examine the potential impacts of this policy proposal (policy I) and compare it with the alternative of providing free transport on top of the stipends (policy II). The findings indicate that both policy proposals would generate net benefits to society but more benefits would accrue to provision of tuition stipends only. Compared to policy II, policy I is more cost effective and therefore the preferred policy option. Key words: Girls’ secondary school enrolment, policy options