Title: Share Findings for Greater Impact: Where Should Ugandan University Research Be Disseminated?
Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara, Akampulira Sarah, Dr. Mategeko Betty
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 219-229
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
Research dissemination is a critical bridge between knowledge production and societal impact, yet the practices, determinants, and consequences of dissemination channel selection among Ugandan university academics remain empirically underexplored. This cross-sectional survey study examined where Ugandan university researchers disseminate their findings, what factors influence those choices, and how dissemination practices relate to research impact. Using stratified random sampling, data were collected from 420 academic researchers across five purposively selected Ugandan universities Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala International University, and Gulu University. A structured self-administered questionnaire measured socio-demographic characteristics, dissemination channel use, influencing factors on a five-point Likert scale, and a composite research impact index. Data were analysed using univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-square tests and Pearson correlations, and multivariate Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) via AMOS 24 with Maximum Likelihood estimation and bootstrapped mediation analysis (5,000 resamples). Findings revealed that peer-reviewed journals (88.6%), international conferences (73.3%), and open-access journals (61.9%) were the most frequently used dissemination channels, while social media (22.1%) and institutional repositories (31.4%) remained significantly underutilized. Chi-square analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in the use of peer-reviewed journals (?² = 4.31, p = .038), international conferences (?² = 7.18, p = .007), open-access journals (?² = 13.26, p < .001), and policy briefs (?² = 15.07, p < .001) between public and private university researchers. Pearson correlation analysis identified journal impact factor (r = .51 with audience reach), funder requirements (r = .52 with open-access preference), and publication cost as the primary determinants of channel selection. The SEM model demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.052, SRMR = 0.048) and confirmed that institutional support (? = 0.48, p < .001) and researcher characteristics (? = 0.37, p < .001) positively predicted dissemination practices, while financial and access barriers exerted a significant negative effect (? = ?0.29, p < .001). Dissemination practices, in turn, strongly and positively predicted research impact (? = 0.61, p < .001), with dissemination serving as a significant partial mediator of the relationship between institutional support and impact. These findings underscore the urgent need for Ugandan universities to invest in open-access infrastructure, reduce financial barriers to publication, and build researcher capacity in digital dissemination to maximize the societal and scholarly impact of academic research.