Richard Sebaggala

• Sebaggala, Richard; D’Espallier, Bert & Mersland, Roy (2025). The Application of Sen's Capability Approach in Disability Research: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. ISSN 1945-2829. doi: 10.1080/19452829.2025.2596346. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The use of Sen's Capability Approach (CA) in disability research has become increasingly popular, and this paper reviews how CA has been used to inform empirical disability research. We conducted a critical interpretive synthesis of 43 articles identified from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Our findings unveil the multifaceted role of Capability Approach (CA) as both a foundational framework for disability research, and an outcome measurement tool, enabling researchers to assess capabilities, well-being, and functionings. Our review accomplishes more than just demonstrating the versatility of CA in various disability research designs but also makes a significant contribution to the field by proposing a novel future research framework grounded in the CA perspective. This framework offers valuable guidance for researchers aiming to advance disability scholarship through a capabilitarian lens. By building on the strengths CA identified in this review, future research can leverage CA to create a more inclusive and holistic approach to disability.

• Liliane, Luwaga; Okullo, Isaac; Sebaggala, Richard; Mubiru, Denis & Mengesha, Sisay Derso (2023). Predicting the Adoption of COVID-19 Public Health Preventive Measures in Ethiopia: Application of Health Belief Model. Texila international journal of public health. ISSN 2520-3134. 11(3). doi: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.11.03.Art026. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In the face of coronavirus disease pandemic, adherence to public health measures largely influences their effectiveness in containing the spread. Four specific objectives guided this study: (i) Assess whether individuals are adhering to the COVID-19 preventive measures promoted by Ethiopian government; (ii) Examine the heterogeneity in adoption of preventive measures in Ethiopia; (iii) Identify the factors affecting adherence to preventive measures-based health belief model; and (iv) Examine the moderating effects of socio-economic factors on the relationship between adherence to preventive measures and HBM factors. The study relied on a nationally representative cross-sectional survey commissioned by the World Health Organization in 2021 for Ethiopia. Data was collected from 895 individuals aged 18 years of age or older. Analysis applied several methods including the Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Univariate analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis. Using face masks and washing hands were the most frequently practiced preventive measures. The regression analysis indicated that perceived severity, perceived barriers, and cues to action showed a significant association with adherence at p >0.05. Furthermore, socio-economic factors have a moderating role on adherence to preventive measures and HBM factors. Effective promotion and adoption of preventive measures require addressing individuals' perceptions of severity and benefits while minimizing barriers and providing clear cues to action. Additionally, specific preventive measures that require ongoing effort and habit development may face challenges in adoption. Tailoring interventions can help overcome these challenges and encourage the widespread adoption of preventive measures to curtail the spread.

• Liliane, Luwaga; Sebaggala, Richard; Nyawade, Susan; Mengesha, Sisay Derso & Isaac, Okullo (2023). Heterogeneity in the Adoption of COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among Adults in Ethiopia: A Cluster Analysis Approach. Texila international journal of public health. ISSN 2520-3134. 11(4). doi: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.11.04.Art005. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this study, the extent of heterogeneity in the adoption of preventive measures among adult individuals in Ethiopia is investigated. Utilizing a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted by the World Health Organization in 2021, encompassing 895 participants, the study explores varying patterns of preventive measure adoption. Hierarchical cluster analysis is employed to discern potential subgroups within respondents based on their adoption of preventive measures. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis is applied to ascertain the factors associated with the identified group divisions. Two distinct groups are identified based on responses to nine preventive measures: Group 1 comprises the majority of respondents (87%) who exhibit lower frequencies of adopting preventive measures, while Group 2 consists of 13% of respondents demonstrating a higher frequency of adoption. The amalgamation of cluster analysis and logistic regression outcomes yields insightful implications for the profile of preventive measure adoption. The logistic regression analysis delves into determinants influencing membership in the identified subgroups, notably uncovering that individuals with higher educational attainment exhibit a 2.33-fold greater likelihood of belonging to Group 1, indicating their relatively lesser adoption of preventive measures. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the heterogeneity within the adoption of preventive measures among Ethiopian adults and underscores the influence of education on the propensity to adopt such measures. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics surrounding public health behavior in the context of a pandemic.

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• Sebaggala, Richard (2025). Essays on Econometric Analysis of Disability-Inclusive Savings Groups. Universitetet i Agder. ISSN 9788284272733. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  My first encounter with the iSAVE programme was in early 2022 when I visited the implementing partners, the Norwegian Association of Disabled Persons (NAD), the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) and the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU). The trip was supposed to be a short familiarization tour before I left for Norway for my PhD studies, but it reshaped my research journey. At these meetings, I had the opportunity to listen to a wheelchair user who had opened a busy market stall and a deaf farmer who runs a thriving farm. Again and again I heard how people who had long been in the shadow of disability were building a business, educating their children and shedding the helplessness of dependency through the simple weekly savings. These stories revealed a treasure trove of practise that had slipped under the academic radar. It was then that I realised: here was a rich, untamed landscape of human potential, a story of progress measured not just in money, but in the flourishing freedoms that allowed people to shape their lives according to their own values. My task was to evaluate iSAVE. This first encounter became the unshakeable compass for this dissertation. Globally, one in six people live with a disability and the vast majority of them live in low- and middle-income countries where poverty and marginalization are mutually reinforcing. Traditional microfinance barely reaches them, with less than one per cent of borrowers being persons with disabilities, but community-owned groups like iSAVE are taking a different approach. By intentionally cultivating a membership where at least 60 percent are persons with disabilities (PwDs) and nurturing savings alongside other empowering initiatives, iSAVE stands out as a model of economic inclusion worthy of rigorous study. Five papers form the backbone of this dissertation. A critical review of Sen’s Capability Approach forms the theoretical basis. A quasi-experimental study shows how prolonged membership enhances economic and financial capabilities. A decomposition analysis uncovers the hidden contours of discrimination. A study of group diversity challenges the conventional wisdom that homogeneity in groups leads to success and shows how well-managed diversity increases a group's performance. Finally, a non-parametric efficiency study shows that disabilities inclusive savings groups are efficient, making the most of what they have. In essence, this study demonstrates that disability-inclusive savings groups are not simply about mobilizing funds. They actively break down the barriers that trap people in poverty. The insights offered in this dissertation underscore a fundamental truth: that even marginalized individuals, such as PwDs, possess the inherent capacity to thrive economically when the conditions are right

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