Title: Copy-Paste Plagiarism in Ugandan Universities: A Cancer Undermining Problem-Solving Research and Ethical Scholarship
Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara, Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kaazara
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: 124-131
Publication Date: 2025/09/28
Abstract:
Academic integrity in higher education institutions is fundamental to maintaining educational quality and producing competent graduates capable of addressing societal challenges. However, copy-paste plagiarism has emerged as a significant threat to scholarly excellence in Ugandan universities, potentially undermining problem-solving research and ethical scholarship. The problem of copy-paste plagiarism in Ugandan universities represents a multifaceted challenge that compromises educational quality, graduate competency, and institutional credibility, while reflecting deeper systemic issues including inadequate research training, limited resource access, and insufficient academic support systems. The main objective of this study was to examine the prevalence, underlying causes, and consequences of copy-paste plagiarism in Ugandan universities, and to develop evidence-based recommendations for enhancing academic integrity and promoting ethical scholarship. A concurrent mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative surveys from 1,200 students across five major Ugandan universities with qualitative interviews and focus group discussions involving 60 students, 30 faculty members, and 15 administrators. Statistical analyses included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques to examine relationships between plagiarism behaviors and various institutional and individual factors. Key findings revealed that 78.3% of students engaged in some form of copy-paste plagiarism, with higher prevalence in humanities and social sciences (82.4%) compared to natural sciences (71.2%). The study identified inadequate research methodology training (? = 0.312, p < 0.001), limited access to diverse academic resources (? = 0.287, p < 0.001), and insufficient institutional policy enforcement (? = 0.241, p < 0.001) as primary contributing factors. The study concluded that copy-paste plagiarism in Ugandan universities represents a systemic problem requiring comprehensive institutional reforms, enhanced research training programs, and culturally-sensitive academic integrity frameworks. The key recommendation emphasized the urgent need for universities to implement integrated academic integrity programs that combine mandatory research methodology training, improved resource access, and strengthened policy enforcement mechanisms to foster a culture of ethical scholarship and original research.