Open Access and Research Visibility: The Prospects and Challenges of an Open Access Policy in Uganda
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Joachim Bibuli
Abstract
Open Access (OA) has transformed the global landscape of scholarly communication, providing a means to overcome barriers to knowledge dissemination and fostering equity in research access. Rooted in the principles of shared knowledge and community enrichment, OA has the potential to bridge significant disparities between the Global North and South, particularly in addressing the critical needs of developing nations like Uganda. This chapter examines Uganda’s OA landscape, analyzing its progress, benefits, challenges, and prospects for policy development. OA is premised on the notion that knowledge is a public good and must be freely accessible to maximize its societal impact. This approach is critical in low-resource settings where economic constraints and infrastructural challenges often limit access to scholarly materials. In Uganda, these barriers have restricted researchers, educators, and students from participating fully in global knowledge production and dissemination. However, the adoption of OA models, including institutional repositories and OA journals, has shown promise in addressing these issues. For example, Makerere University Library’s institutional repository has played a pivotal role in increasing the visibility of local research outputs. Despite these advances, the growth of OA in Uganda remains hindered by systemic challenges. The chapter identifies key obstacles, such as limited awareness of OA benefits, infrastructural inadequacies, and the absence of national policies mandating OA publishing. Additionally, restrictive copyright frameworks and reliance on traditional publishing models continue to limit the accessibility and impact of Ugandan research. Moreover, the slow adoption of institutional repositories across academic institutions points to a need for more robust advocacy and capacity-building initiatives. The benefits of OA adoption are well-documented. Studies cited in this chapter highlight that OA articles receive significantly higher visibility, citation rates, and interdisciplinary engagement than their subscription-based counterparts. Moreover, OA accelerates the application of research findings to societal challenges, such as disease outbreaks, by providing immediate and unrestricted access to essential information. In Uganda, the integration of OA into national policies could mitigate the high costs of journal subscriptions, alleviate budgetary constraints on libraries, and support the dissemination of research that addresses local development issues. To fully leverage the potential of OA, Uganda must adopt a comprehensive and inclusive policy framework. This chapter underscores the importance of aligning OA strategies with national development goals, particularly those related to education, innovation, and information access. Recommendations include revising copyright laws to facilitate OA practices, incentivizing the use of institutional repositories, and fostering collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and international organizations. Furthermore, the establishment of peer-reviewed journals focusing on local content would ensure that Ugandan research contributes to both national and global knowledge economies.
Abstract
Open Access (OA) has transformed the global landscape of scholarly communication, providing a means to overcome barriers to knowledge dissemination and fostering equity in research access. Rooted in the principles of shared knowledge and community enrichment, OA has the potential to bridge significant disparities between the Global North and South, particularly in addressing the critical needs of developing nations like Uganda. This chapter examines Uganda’s OA landscape, analyzing its progress, benefits, challenges, and prospects for policy development. OA is premised on the notion that knowledge is a public good and must be freely accessible to maximize its societal impact. This approach is critical in low-resource settings where economic constraints and infrastructural challenges often limit access to scholarly materials. In Uganda, these barriers have restricted researchers, educators, and students from participating fully in global knowledge production and dissemination. However, the adoption of OA models, including institutional repositories and OA journals, has shown promise in addressing these issues. For example, Makerere University Library’s institutional repository has played a pivotal role in increasing the visibility of local research outputs. Despite these advances, the growth of OA in Uganda remains hindered by systemic challenges. The chapter identifies key obstacles, such as limited awareness of OA benefits, infrastructural inadequacies, and the absence of national policies mandating OA publishing. Additionally, restrictive copyright frameworks and reliance on traditional publishing models continue to limit the accessibility and impact of Ugandan research. Moreover, the slow adoption of institutional repositories across academic institutions points to a need for more robust advocacy and capacity-building initiatives. The benefits of OA adoption are well-documented. Studies cited in this chapter highlight that OA articles receive significantly higher visibility, citation rates, and interdisciplinary engagement than their subscription-based counterparts. Moreover, OA accelerates the application of research findings to societal challenges, such as disease outbreaks, by providing immediate and unrestricted access to essential information. In Uganda, the integration of OA into national policies could mitigate the high costs of journal subscriptions, alleviate budgetary constraints on libraries, and support the dissemination of research that addresses local development issues. To fully leverage the potential of OA, Uganda must adopt a comprehensive and inclusive policy framework. This chapter underscores the importance of aligning OA strategies with national development goals, particularly those related to education, innovation, and information access. Recommendations include revising copyright laws to facilitate OA practices, incentivizing the use of institutional repositories, and fostering collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and international organizations. Furthermore, the establishment of peer-reviewed journals focusing on local content would ensure that Ugandan research contributes to both national and global knowledge economies.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Navigating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Integration in Library and Information Science: Insights from Four National Libraries 1
- Integrating AI Tools into Stem Research 25
- Ocean Data Management and EU Database Sui Generis Right 53
- Leveraging Browser-based VR for GLAM Institutions: Broadening Access to African and Diaspora Cultural Heritage 77
- Preservation and Digital Repositories: Connections, Possibilities, and Needs 111
- Research Data Management: A Study with Special Reference to Smart Libraries 135
- Telepresence Robots in the GLAM sector: Bridging Divides for an Inclusive and Equitable Smart Society 157
- NLP Driven Citation Analysis of Legal Scholarship: Challenges and Opportunities 177
- ChatGPT and the Future of Library Reference Services 203
- Next-Gen Librarianship: Exploring the Potential of Metaverse in Information Spaces 227
- Tribal Legal Research and its Challenges in the Age of AI 249
- Digital Silent Rooms and Libraries in France During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Enacting Intimate Study Environments 269
- Exploring IOT Awareness among Library Professionals: Insights from a Developing Country’s Perspective 291
- Information Literacy in Academic Library Instruction 311
- Introducing Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Publishing: A Case Study 337
- Teaching Information Literacy Skills in Higher Learning Institutions in Zimbabwe 359
- Gender Parity Towards Access and Use of ICT in Academic Libraries in Nigeria 385
- Literacy Meaning Construction for Malang City: Community Libraries Activists 407
- The Nexus of Food Consumerism: Information Science and Technology Perspectives in Ghana 433
- Marketing Strategies for Library Services: A Comparative Study Between University and Public Libraries 453
- Analyzing the Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Libraries 473
- Transforming Government Information: The Digital Evolution of the United States Government Publishing Office 493
- Information Technology Acceptance in Health Information Management Practice in Nigeria: Benefits and Challenges 515
- Beyond Information Access: Libraries as Centers of Metaliteracy in the 21st Century 535
- The Current State of Artificial Intelligence Use and its Ethical Implications in Higher Education in Zimbabwe 561
- Expanding Boundaries: The Role of VR in the Modern Library 589
- Open Access and Research Visibility: The Prospects and Challenges of an Open Access Policy in Uganda 611
- Revolutionary Research: The Integration of AI and Blockchain in Peer Review Protocols 633
- About the Contributors 665
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Navigating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Integration in Library and Information Science: Insights from Four National Libraries 1
- Integrating AI Tools into Stem Research 25
- Ocean Data Management and EU Database Sui Generis Right 53
- Leveraging Browser-based VR for GLAM Institutions: Broadening Access to African and Diaspora Cultural Heritage 77
- Preservation and Digital Repositories: Connections, Possibilities, and Needs 111
- Research Data Management: A Study with Special Reference to Smart Libraries 135
- Telepresence Robots in the GLAM sector: Bridging Divides for an Inclusive and Equitable Smart Society 157
- NLP Driven Citation Analysis of Legal Scholarship: Challenges and Opportunities 177
- ChatGPT and the Future of Library Reference Services 203
- Next-Gen Librarianship: Exploring the Potential of Metaverse in Information Spaces 227
- Tribal Legal Research and its Challenges in the Age of AI 249
- Digital Silent Rooms and Libraries in France During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Enacting Intimate Study Environments 269
- Exploring IOT Awareness among Library Professionals: Insights from a Developing Country’s Perspective 291
- Information Literacy in Academic Library Instruction 311
- Introducing Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Publishing: A Case Study 337
- Teaching Information Literacy Skills in Higher Learning Institutions in Zimbabwe 359
- Gender Parity Towards Access and Use of ICT in Academic Libraries in Nigeria 385
- Literacy Meaning Construction for Malang City: Community Libraries Activists 407
- The Nexus of Food Consumerism: Information Science and Technology Perspectives in Ghana 433
- Marketing Strategies for Library Services: A Comparative Study Between University and Public Libraries 453
- Analyzing the Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Libraries 473
- Transforming Government Information: The Digital Evolution of the United States Government Publishing Office 493
- Information Technology Acceptance in Health Information Management Practice in Nigeria: Benefits and Challenges 515
- Beyond Information Access: Libraries as Centers of Metaliteracy in the 21st Century 535
- The Current State of Artificial Intelligence Use and its Ethical Implications in Higher Education in Zimbabwe 561
- Expanding Boundaries: The Role of VR in the Modern Library 589
- Open Access and Research Visibility: The Prospects and Challenges of an Open Access Policy in Uganda 611
- Revolutionary Research: The Integration of AI and Blockchain in Peer Review Protocols 633
- About the Contributors 665
