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ItemExamining Ankole toponyms : etymology, evaluative morphosemantics and evolution(Makerere University, 2026)This dissertation focuses on examining Ankole toponyms particularly their origin, evaluative morphosemantics and their evolution. Although evaluative morphology has been largely studied as an independent linguistic feature, this research examined it within a context of toponymic formation of Ankole. The aim of the study was to show how language is crucial in shaping people’s perspectives in the formation of Ankole toponyms. The specific objectives of this study were; ⅰ) to explore the etymology of the selected Ankole toponyms; ⅱ) to investigate the role of evaluative markers in the selected Ankole toponyms; ⅲ) to examine the changes in selected Ankole toponyms. In this study, I used a qualitative approach involving data collection methods of interviewing, text analysis and note taking. I used the thematic based triangulation approach; the findings were cross referenced for validity and reliability. Out of 26 toponyms available in my designated scope, 15 toponyms were purposively selected for analysis. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, it attested to the radial models of the broad Cognitive Semantics Theory and Social Cultural Dynamic Theory. The two cognitive semantic approaches, namely, Radial Model Category of Diminutive by Jurafsky (1996) and Radial Model of Augmentative by Prieto (2005), were adopted to establish the semantic extensions in the evaluative morphological markers in Ankole toponyms. Likewise, the social cultural dynamic theory also guided in explaining how historical experience, cultural values, community perception influence naming, reinterpretation and the continued use of Ankole toponyms. The findings reveal that beyond encoding quantitative attributes of size, intensity or magnitude, these evaluative markers convey emotional attitudes associated with a place in Ankole society. The findings further provide evidence that Ankole place names can be traced back to a variety of sources, including the environment, the economic activities of Ankole people, the systems of governance used in Ankole society, and the spiritual and mythological traditions of Ankole society. Furthermore, the findings from this study indicate that due to changes in the environment, sacred reinterpretation or recasting, migration, urbanization and socio-economic developments over different periods of time, the names and meanings given to Ankole toponyms shift and develop through these various processes and events. The study contributes to the broad field of onomastics by showing how evaluative markers embedded in the structure of toponyms can encode people’s judgements toward a place name. The study however recommends a comparative study on evaluative morphology involving toponyms from languages closely related to Runyankore like Runyoro-Rutooro, Lusoga and Luganda to see whether they share some features.
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ItemFraming corruption : a case study of New Vision’s coverage of the iron sheets scandal (2023-2024)(Makerere University, 2025)This study analysed how the New Vision newspaper covered the iron sheets corruption scandal in Uganda between 2023 and 2024. The general objective was to examine the press coverage of the scandal, with specific objectives to: (1) establish how New Vision covered the iron sheets scandal; (2) identify the generic frames used in the coverage of the scandal; and (3) explore the factors that influenced the coverage of the scandal. A case study research design was adopted. The study used a mixed-methods explanatory sequential approach. The study combined quantitative content analysis of 50 newspaper articles with qualitative in-depth interviews of reporters and editors, with findings integrated at the interpretation stage, where the qualitative data explained and contextualised the quantitative results. The study was guided by framing theory, with agenda setting theory employed as a complementary framework to explain issue salience and prominence in the coverage. The findings indicate that media coverage plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and promoting public accountability. Although the scandal initially received substantial coverage, its prominence declined over time as other news stories emerged, even though the framing remained relatively consistent. Five generic frames were identified: attribution of responsibility, conflict, economic consequences, human interest and morality. The attribution of responsibility frame was dominant, with coverage largely neutral in tone and heavily reliant on official sources, particularly the police. The study concludes that reporting on corruption in Uganda is shaped by institutional pressures, access to information and government influence, highlighting the need for media independence and professional ethics.
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ItemFrom print to digital: evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the Ugandan press(Makerere University, 2026)The evolution, adoption, and contribution of electronic newspapers (ePapers) remain underexplored in Global South media scholarship, particularly Uganda. Existing literature often conflates ePapers with social media or frames them as threats to print journalism, overlooking their distinct potential. A key unanswered question is whether ePapers can viably deliver traditional newspaper services amid digital transition. This study addresses that gap by examining the case of New Vision and exploring factors responsible for the evolution of ePapers, the drivers behind theuir adoption and their contribution in the Ugandan press. Grounded in technological determinism, social shaping of technology, and critical political economy, the study highlights how technological innovation, socio-economic pressures, and institutional dynamics shape the evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the press. Using key informant interviews and netnography, findings reveal that technology and socio-cultural factors such as the Structural Adjust Programmes of the 1990s, internet/ telecommunications penetration, social media, and COVID-19, are central to ePaper uptake in the Global South. ePapers have transformed news dissemination, redefined economic models, elevated digital archival journalism, and offer potential resistance to press censorship. The study introduces an ePaper Business Viability Model offering insights into sustainable revenue and digital resilience for newspapers in the Global South. Recommendations include further research on the digital divide, cultural-technological intersections, and more case studies. The study further recommends that newspapers should improve accessibility, innovate content formats, monetize archives, and integrate Artificial Intelligence into their ePapers for better results. Strategic partnerships with other industries are essential. Policy interventions must prioritize broadband infrastructure, digital literacy, media freedoms, and fair competition to foster public-private collaboration and digital transition. This study contributes to rethinking digital press viability in Uganda and offers a roadmap for sustainable media transformation across similar contexts.
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ItemRepresentation of socio-cultural and political change in the poetry of Kagayi Ngobi(Makerere University, 2025)This study examines how poetry serves as a means of engaging with socio-cultural and political realities in post-independence Uganda, with a specific focus on the works of Kagayi Ngobi, a notable Ugandan poet and performer. Through a critical analysis of his written and performed poetry, the research investigates how Kagayi navigates and critiques Uganda’s complex postcolonial landscape. The study is rooted in two theories: performance theory, drawing on scholars such as Richard Schechner, Richard Bauman, and Victor Turner, and their ideas on embodiment and restored behavior, and decolonial thought. It specifically incorporates Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni’s concepts of epistemic disobedience and the coloniality of power, knowledge, and being. These frameworks provide perspectives through which Kagayi’s poetic voice is understood not only as a performative act but also as a decolonial gesture that challenges the dominant narratives inherited from colonial structures. The research examines how his diction, themes, and oral aesthetics confront issues such as inequality, cultural alienation, failed leadership, and social stratification. By exploring how Kagayi uses poetry to reflect and respond to lived experiences in Uganda, the study highlights poetry’s ability to reclaim indigenous knowledge systems and to revive public consciousness. In this way, the research not only analyzes the artistic and thematic elements of Kagayi’s work but also situates his poetry within the larger struggle for cultural identity, civic awareness, and historical justice. Through the interaction of performance and text, Kagayi’s work becomes a space for resistance, memory, and hope. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that contemporary Ugandan poetry, as exemplified by Kagayi’s work, is a vital form of social commentary and a dynamic medium for envisioning alternative futures based on justice, dignity, and self-determination.
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ItemAssessing fake news on X during the 2021 Ugandan presidential election(Makerere University, 2026)The study assessed fake news on X during Uganda’s 2021 presidential elections using three objectives: (1). The first objective established how X users interacted with the fake news, while the second objective identified the themes in X fake news. The third objective identified ways through which fake news can be mitigated without prejudicing free speech. Two theoretical views of political communication, agenda setting and social cognition were utilized to assess fake news during Uganda’s 2021 presidential elections. It was mixed methods research which involved collecting data using tools such as content analysis, interviews and survey. The key findings indicate the dominance of young people aged 25-34 as X users during the 2021 presidential elections. The study also found that the majority of X users could not distinguish between fake news and genuine information shared on the microblogging platform. The findings also suggest that fake news themes intended to incite the public, instill fear to show rivals as violent and hooligans, to show that some political candidates had bowed out of the race, engaging in voter bribery and ballot staffing. Furthermore, the study outcomes showed that fake news can be mitigated by providing factual information and addressing public ignorance. The study recommends that the communication regulator, Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), should partner with reputable media houses to conduct mass sensitization on how to fact-check social media information to reduce the huge percentages of social media users who just share and comment about social media information before verifying whether it’s true or concocted. The researcher recommends that politicians at all levels should be sensitized on the impact of creating, sharing or circulating fake news on society. Also, political parties should take initiative to educate their supporters on how to spot, and respond to fake news.