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Item[Dataset from a study on] shifting from degenerative to regenerative farming: evidence from fecal sludge fertilizer use in Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)To combat land degradation and climate change, agriculture must transition from linear "extraction and disposal" systems to a circular economy. Fecal sludge-derived fertilizer (FSDF) offers a restorative solution due to its richness in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, negative social perceptions and low marketability limit its agricultural adoption. This study evaluates the economic and market viability of FSDF in Uganda by analyzing farmer preferences for five fertilizer attributes, focusing on "residual effect" as an indicator of readiness to adopt circular economy practices. Utilizing a discrete choice experiment and mixed logit models to account for scale and preference heterogeneity, the study identified the most preferred attributes and key drivers of farmer behavior. The results reveal that farmers strongly prefer a long residual effect, and product certification. Significant preference heterogeneity exists, driven primarily by access to credit and membership in agricultural or non-agricultural groups. Notably, farmers are willing to pay the highest premium for a longer residual effect (USD 1.06), followed by certification (USD 0.29/kg). The estimated maximum total willingness to pay is USD 1.82, which aligns with current market prices, confirming that FSDF is commercially competitive. The study concludes that farmers are willing to transition from inorganic to organic fertilizers due to the high value placed on the residual effect. Large-scale FSDF production is commercially viable if manufacturers prioritize certification while maintaining organic integrity. Furthermore, adoption can be accelerated through targeted awareness campaigns to mitigate social stigma and by leveraging group memberships to facilitate knowledge sharing.
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ItemTechnical efficiency, technological change, and returns to scale in the production of selected food crops in Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Although the agriculture sector is an important sector for food security, poverty reduction and overall economic growth in Uganda, the productivity of the food crop sub-sector remains unsatisfactory. While existing studies have mainly been cross-sectional due to lack of panel data, it is imperative that evidence is provided on the temporal performance of the sector across specific major subsectors, highlighting the aspects that have consistently resulted into favourable positive impacts and those that have resulted into poor performance, in order to enhance existing strategies aimed at improving productivity in the sector. The study estimated and investigated three components of productivity; technical efficiency, technological change, and returns to scale in four of the country’s major food crops; maize, beans, banana, and cassava for the period between 20052010. The study also established the determinants of the observed technical efficiency during the same period. Using national panel data for 2005/06 and 2009/10 collected by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the study utilized two econometric approaches; a translog stochastic frontier production function model to estimate technical efficiency, technological change and returns to scale, and a robust ordinary least squares regression to establish the determinants of technical efficiency. The results revealed that mean technical efficiency across the four food crop farming households was low during the study period, estimated at 22%, 15%, 15% and 14% for maize, beans, banana and cassava farming households respectively. These results imply that there would still be a possibility to produce 78%, 85%, 85%, 86% more output of maize, beans, banana, and cassava respectively, using the same resources and at the existing technology. Mean technical efficiency declined between the two time periods, and significantly so (at 1% level) for both beans and banana farming households. The key factors that determined technical efficiency across the four farming households were education, extension visits, crop area, location where a household was located, whether in the rural or urban area, and housing index which was composed of a number of features that would indicate the well-being of a household. Although purchased inputs would ordinarily be expected to increase food crop productivity, improvement in productivity among the farming households was propelled more by technical change, resulting from intensified use of both family and hired labour, than technical efficiency. Maize and cassava farming households exhibited increasing returns to scale, implying that expanded use of purchased inputs and crop area would be beneficial to raise their productivity. On the contrary, bean and banana production exhibited decreasing returns to scale, implying that it would neither be worthwhile expanding the use of purchased inputs, nor crop area at the existing technology. In terms of policy, the results underscore the need for government to promote the use of purchased farm inputs through market interventions that will enable input and output prices to motivate investment by maize and cassava farming households, and effort to improve the level of technology to raise returns to scale for beans and banana. Across the four crops, government should pursue a land reform policy that will support farming households to secure and expand food crop area in rural areas, provide market supportive road and physical infrastructure, education and extension support for household heads and spouses, specifically on market dynamics of purchased inputs and food crop output, in order to enhance food crop productivity.
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ItemGross domestic savings and economic growth in Uganda(Makerere Univeristy, 2025)This study examined the effect of gross domestic savings on economic growth in Uganda using annual time series data from 1989 to 2023. Guided by the Solow growth theory, the study employed econometric techniques including the Augmented Dickey–Fuller test for stationary, Johansen co-integration test for long-run relationships, and Ordinary Least Squares regression for estimation. Empirical findings revealed that gross domestic savings and foreign direct investment positively and significantly affect economic growth, while inflation and population growth have negative and significant effects. Trade openness was positive but statistically insignificant. The model explained approximately 63.8% of the variation in economic growth, and diagnostic tests confirmed its reliability. The study concludes that economic growth in Uganda depends largely on increased savings mobilization, attraction of sustainable foreign investment, price stability, and effective population management. It recommends that the government prioritize policies aimed at encouraging domestic savings, maintaining macroeconomic stability, and aligning population growth with resource capacity to achieve longterm, sustainable economic development.
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ItemEffect of renewable energy consumption on employment in Uganda (1990–2024).(Makerere University, 2025)This study examines the effect of renewable energy consumption on employment in Uganda over the period 1990–2024, with the aim of understanding the short-run and long-run effects of renewable energy consumption on total employment in Uganda, the influence of GDP per capita, trade openness, and foreign direct investment (FDI) on employment and the speed of adjustment of employment toward equilibrium following short-run shocks. Using time-series secondary data from the World Bank, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the study employs econometric techniques including Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), and Granger causality tests to analyze both short-run and long-run relationships between renewable energy consumption and employment. The results indicate a positive and statistically significant long-run relationship between renewable energy consumption and total employment, suggesting that increased investment and utilization of renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, and hydro have contributed to expanding employment opportunities, particularly in rural and emerging green sectors. However, the short-run effects are found to be modest, reflecting the time lag between energy sector reforms and labor market adjustments. The study concludes that scaling up renewable energy investments, enhancing technical skills training, and strengthening policy frameworks can accelerate employment growth and support Uganda’s transition toward a green economy. The findings have important implications for energy policy, sustainable development, and the achievement of Uganda’s Vision 2040 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Keywords: Renewable energy, Employment, Econometric analysis, Sustainable development
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ItemEast African customs union and economic growth in Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)This study empirically investigates the effect of the East African Community (EAC) Customs Union on Uganda’s economic growth, guided by the Gravity Model of Trade and the Solow Growth Model. Using annual time-series data from 1994 to 2024, the analysis employed a twostage approach. First, a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used to examine the longrun and short-run effect of the Customs Union on Uganda’s trade performance. Second, a separate VECM estimated the relationship between intra-EAC trade and Uganda’s economic growth. Key variables included logged trade volume, real GDP figures for Uganda and its partners, and a dummy variable for the post-2005 Customs Union period. The models were validated through Johansen cointegration tests, which confirmed stable long-run relationships, and robust diagnostic checks for serial correlation, heteroskedasticity, and normality. The findings reveal a critical paradox: while intra-EAC trade has a positive and statistically significant long-run effect on Uganda’s economic growth, the EAC Customs Union policy itself shows no significant independent impact on driving that trade. This indicates that Uganda’s trade growth is more attributable to the general economic expansion of the region than to the tariff liberalization of the Customs Union, with structural constraints like a narrow export base and persistent non-tariff barriers muting the policy's effect. Consequently, the study concludes that the benefits of regional integration are not automatic. It recommends that Ugandan policymakers move beyond tariff liberalization to urgently implement targeted measures including the elimination of non-tariff barriers, investment in trade infrastructure, and support for export diversification to fully harness the growth potential of intra-EAC trade.