Dissertations and Theses (Master's & Doctoral)

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    Determinants of Electricity Power Losses in Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2023-11-14) Tuhamire, Robert
    This study investigates the determinants of electricity power losses in Uganda. Employing the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, the study regressed Non-technical electricity power losses against domestic tariffs, income (measured as GDP per capita) and population growth over a 30-year period using annual data. The study established that in the short run, domestic tariff and income have a negative and significant effect on power losses with the reducing-effect of income spreading across a four-year period. Population growth on the other hand has a positive and significant short run effect on electricity power loss. In the long run, domestic tariff and population growth have positive and significant effects on power losses while the effect of income is not significant. The study therefore recommended that policy makers should strive to raise people’s income because high incomes have an immediate reducing effect on power losses. There should also be direct efforts to regulate and stabilize electricity tariffs and an installation of a clear policy on population growth in Uganda in order to sustain electricity supply in the long run.
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    Social Network, Neighbourhood Effect, Financial Inclusion and Adoption of Solar Photovoltaic in Households of Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2022-03-25) Tamukedde, Juma
    The purpose of this study was to establish factors influencing adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) in households. The study was guided by three specific objectives (i) to determine the effect of financial inclusion on adoption of solar PV. (ii) to determine the effect of neighbourhood influence on adoption of solar photovoltaic and (iii) to determine the effect of social network tie on adoption of solar photovoltaic. The study used the 2019-2020 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS 2019/2020) data collected by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) with a sample of 13,732 randomly selected households. Quantitative research approaches were employed and the logit regression model was used for to estimate the marginal effects of financial inclusion, neighbourhood effect and social network tie on adoption of solar photovoltaic. Findings reveal that, financial inclusion has positive (0.036) and statistically significant (p < 0.01) effect on adoption of solar PV. Meaning that, the probability of a household adopting solar and is financially included significantly increases by approximately 4% compared to those who are financially excluded. Neighbourhood effect has positive (0.709) and statistically significant (p < 0.01) influence on adoption of solar PV. Meaning that, the probability of a household adopting solar as a result of neighbourhood effect increases significantly by approximately 71% compared to those in areas with less concentration of solar PV in the neighbourhood. Social network tie has positive (0.061) and statistically significant (p < 0.01). Meaning that, households with members belonging to a social network significantly increases the probability of adopting solar PV by approximately 6% and statistically significant (p < 0.01). the findings suggest that, financial inclusion, Neighbourhood effect and social network, jointly predict about 31% of solar PV adoptions in households. Furthermore, results show that, sex of the household head, household income, size, roof type and residence have a significant positive effect on adoption of solar PV. The study recommends that; policies to promote adoption of solar PV in households should prioritize financial inclusion. This will enhance financial capability of income constrained households to afford solar PV. Both government and solar companies should leverage on existing social networks to promote solar PV adoption. Similarly, existing adopters in the neighbourhood can used to increase visibility of solar PV systems thereby arousing the interest of potential adopters. Existing interventions should continue to target rural households since solar PV adoption is more of a rural phenomenon. Future studies should consider qualitative research approaches to provide deeper insights into determinants of solar PV adoption
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    Assessment of Energy Demand Side Management in Higher Institutions of Learning Lecture Rooms: A Case of Mubs
    (Makerere University Business School, 2023-12-04) Samanya, Micheal
    Global interest in Energy Demand Side Management (DSM) is growing, particularly in industrial and domestic sectors. However, there is a lack of attention in existing literature regarding DSM practices in higher education institutions, especially in developing countries. This study explores DSM in higher education lecture rooms, examining energy consumption, costs, emissions, and optimization strategies. The analysis of energy consumption patterns in lecture rooms at higher education institutions reveals significant variations throughout the day, emphasizing the need for tailored DSM strategies. Morning sessions consume 2,564 kWh, afternoon sessions 3,467 kWh, and evening sessions peak at 4,095 kWh. Evening sessions stand out as the highest energy consumers due to reduced natural daylight, underscoring the urgency of DSM measures. These variations in energy consumption highlight the importance of adjusting energy use to match actual demand, rather than following static lighting schedules. Key optimization strategies include dynamic lighting control, automated schedules, energy-efficient technologies like LEDs, maintenance of faulty lights, and occupancy-based lighting. These strategies align with the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), emphasizing factors influencing DSM adoption. Integrating these practices can lead to substantial reductions in energy consumption, further reinforced by figures indicating the potential for energy optimization during all sessions. The study results revealed that for 76.58% of the study time, the Lights were kept ON and only switched OFF 23.42% of the study time in the month of March. The study quantified energy costs incurred by keeping lights ON during daytime, demonstrating that keeping lights ON in the selected lecture rooms during the morning, afternoon and evening sessions amounted to about UGX 591,504.24, UGX 797,538.89 and UGX 968,310.83, respectively, in the Month of March. These cost variations emphasize the need for DSM to manage demand and reduce expenses. Additionally, the embedded greenhouse gas emissions attributed to keeping lights ON were assessed to underscore the environmental impact. Keeping lights ON in the morning, afternoon and evening sessions accounted for about 189.23 kgCO2eq, 255.14 gCO2eq and 309.77 kgCO2eq emissions, respectively, in the e month of March. Embracing DSM strategies could contribute to a reduction in the carbon footprint in educational institutions' lecture rooms, aligning with global environmental goals. The study also reveals that energy consumption persists during weekends and holidays, with an actual energy consumption of 504.9 kWh. These figures highlight untapped opportunities for energy conservation during non-academic periods, further underscoring the need for efficient resource allocation. In summary, this study emphasized the dynamic nature of energy consumption in higher education lecture rooms and underscores the significance of DSM strategies in optimizing energy usage. The integration of figures, including frequency, cost, and greenhouse gas emissions, reinforces the importance of DSM in minimizing energy wastage, reducing operational expenses, and contributing to environmental sustainability. Policy recommendations include incentivizing energy-efficient practices, integrating renewables, and fostering collaboration among institutions. Future research avenues involve a comprehensive consumption analysis, longitudinal studies, and advanced technology exploration to further enhance energy management in higher institutions of learning.
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    Household Cooking Fuel Choices in Tanzania: Evidence from Panel Data.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2025-12-11) Saganda, Erasto Mathias
    This study investigates the determinants of household cooking fuel choices in Tanzania, where the reliance on traditional biomass fuels remains prevalent despite ongoing policy efforts to promote clean energy alternatives. The study tested three main hypotheses: (H01) that a household’s tenure system is not significantly influences cooking fuel choice; (H02) that access to credit has no effect on the probability of adopting cleaner fuels; and (H03) that the type of food commonly prepared is not statistically significance with the type of cooking fuel used. The analysis draws on two waves (2014/15 and 2020/21) of panel data from the Tanzania National Panel Survey (TNPS), comprising 5,465 household observations. A random-effects ordered logistic regression model was employed to account for the ordinal structure of the dependent variable—categorized into traditional (firewood and charcoal), transitional (kerosene), and modern (LPG, electricity, biogas) fuels—while controlling for household-specific unobserved heterogeneity. Findings show that tenure system was a significant determinant: households that own their homes are less likely to use modern fuels compared to renters. However, the effects of credit access and food type are statistically insignificant, leading to a failure to reject the null hypotheses for H2 and H3. Additional results indicate that factors such as higher education levels, increased income, formal employment, urban residency, and smaller household size significantly increase the likelihood of using modern fuels. The study contributes to the literature by employing panel data to analyse energy transition behaviours using a ranked fuel-choice framework. It provides policy-relevant insights into the social, economic, and locational barriers to clean cooking adoption. The research recommends tenure-sensitive incentives, energy financing innovations, and targeted rural infrastructure investments to accelerate clean energy uptake in Tanzania. Suggestions for future research include the integration of geospatial energy access variables and intra-household decision dynamics.
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    Unbundling The Challenges of Reliability of the Power Transmission Grid in Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2024-12-08) Rukundo, Louis Prosper
    This study examines the socio-economic determinants of electricity transmission grid reliability in Uganda, a critical issue for Sub-Saharan Africa’s energy security, using the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) over 2004–2024. Focusing on vandalism costs, infrastructural investment, and urbanization rate, with control variables (GDP growth, population growth, energy demand), the research employs a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to analyze 21 annual observations. Guided by the Theory of Regulation, the study confirms one co-integrating relationship, revealing significant long-run effects: a $1 million increase in vandalism costs raises SAIFI by 0.85 interruptions per customer, reflecting financial losses from incidents like the 2020 Tororo substation sabotage; a $1 million increase in investment reduces SAIFI by 0.62, underscoring funding’s role in reliability; and a 1% increase in urbanization rate increases SAIFI by 1.12, driven by rapid urban demand growth. Short-run dynamics and impulse response functions show impacts peak within two years, converging within five. Robustness is validated through diagnostic tests (serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, normality, specification) and stability analyses (eigenvalues, IRFs). Findings highlight vandalism’s financial burden, a $39.40 million investment gap, and urbanization’s strain on grid capacity, challenging Uganda’s regulatory framework. Policy recommendations include community-based anti-vandalism programs, public-private partnerships to boost investment, urban grid upgrades, and demand-side management to align with the National Development Plan III’s universal access goal by 2030. The study contributes to energy economics by quantifying reliability determinants in a developing context, offering a framework for Sub-Saharan African nations, and suggests future research into regional SAIFI variations and qualitative vandalism drivers.