Dr. Samali V. Mlay

Head of Department, Applied Computing,

Email: smlay@mubs.ac.ug 

Tel: +256772676988

Dr. Samali Violet Mlay is a Senior Lecturer, Researcher and currently the Head, Department of Applied Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Makerere University Business School (MUBS).

She is a member of the University Digitization Committee; a committee formulated to oversee the digitization of University processes. She is also a member of the Research Ethics Committee.

She is a member of the Faculty and Department Staff Selection and Promotion Committee which is in charge of identifying and recruiting staff in the Department and Faculty. This entails identifying staff, recruitment and managing staff development, according to the needs in the Department, that have a direct impact from our graduates’ employment needs in the industry.

Additionally, Dr. Mlay is a member of the Faculty and Department Course Review Committee. This Committee is in charge of studying employment needs in order to develop programmes and courses that are able to align learners with the needed skills to add value to the economy. These responsibilities dictate that she keeps updated on the human resource skills needed in the Industry and the economy.

Dr. Mlay is a Board of Directors member of Nzuri Trust Microfinance and Committee Chair for the Risk, Assets and Liabilities (ALCO) Committee as well as Strategy and Corporate Governance (SCG) Committee of the Microfinance. She is also the Company Secretary of Afric Adict Safaris, a Tour and Travel Company. These responsibilities build her industry experience and place her in direct contact with what is needed in the Industry.

Dr. Mlay has 17 years of lecturing experience in universities in Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria and Finland. She is also an Internal Examiner for Makerere University and External Examiner for other Universities such as University of South Africa, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and Nkumba University. She is an outstanding Researcher with 14 publications in peer review journals. She is a Journal Reviewer and has participated in organizing International Conferences in Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa. She has won 9 research grants and is an Information Systems developer who has developed a number of information systems.

 

1. PhD. Information Communication Technology – The ICT University
2. Master of Information Technology – Makerere University
3. Bachelor of Business Computing – Makerere University
4. Certified Information System Auditor – ISACA
5. Certificate in Designing and Facilitating E-Learning – Open Polytechnic New Zealand

Development of Encephax System: I am a Principal Investigator in a proposed development of a system named Encephax. This system is a risk stratification system for monitoring brain tumor, stroke patients, and hospital triage management in Uganda. The Encephax System is made up of three elements; a device (Encephax headband), a tablet called “Tabla” and Encephax software (ES). We are currently sourcing additional funding for the project to continue the development that started with a small start-up fund from Makerere University Business School.

Development of Freza: I am the Project Coordinator of a Government funded project where our output will be the development of a nanotechnology-based preservation solution for shelf-life extension of fruits and vegetables for the local farmers, retailers and vendors. Our solution has been name “freza”, and is currently being developed to be tested in Uganda. It will help in fruits and vegetables wastage occasioned by their quality deterioration. The solution will be scaled and used by farmers, retailers and vendors in the region once it passes the test.

Tackling Occupational and Nosocomial Infections: we are developing an application, known as “Vitex-Medical Assistant Tool”. Vitex is an integrated system that utilizes antimicrobial and affordable 3D plastics made out of 80% waste plastic, making it eco-friendly. The device sterilises wards up to 99.9% (Puro User Manual), thus preventing nosocomial infections by employing powerful pulsating U.V engine and uses artificial intelligence to improve patient care and practitioner assistance in healthcare facilities and hospices. The working prototype has been developed, pending further funding for enhancement and market evaluation.

Hospital Management System: we are developing a low-cost, quality-driven, integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled medical application (otherwise called “Neura” Digital Health Record). Neura is an integration of applications existing under hospital management system; with interfaces intended to function independently but collaboratively. Neura will be powered by advanced analytics, machine learning and AI techniques like supervised, unsupervised and reinforced learning. It will come with a hardware component of the innovation (otherwise called “Neuroset”) which is an electronic tablet with embedded micro-printer; and is built from locally sourced waste plastic materials which constitute about 50% of its casing, making it environmentally friendly in event of its large-scale production. The tablet combines with a thermal handheld printer, hence consuming less power and space. The working prototype has been developed, pending further funding for enhancement and market evaluation.

Movement Permit and Tracking System development: I was a Co-PI in a Government funded project where our output was a developed movement permit and tracking system. This application enabled people in Uganda to seek movement permission during the COVID-19 induced lock downs. The application had functionality to track or map the movement of people to ease contact tracing. The application can be scaled to be used for other movement restrictions such as transportation of animals.

Environmental sustainability: My PhD dissertation was in the area of Green ICT. This is in a bid to contribute towards a cleaner environment through ICT practices that will ensure environmental sustainability. My interest is building Information Systems that are environmentally friendly. I have since conducted a number of studies in the area of green ICT.

Dissemination: I have received 2 dissemination grants to facilitate ICT in Africa conferences in Uganda and Zimbabwe from TWAS. I have 14 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 1 paper accepted for publication. I have presented in several conferences; both local and international.

Dr. Mlay’s research interests are in Green ICT, ICT for Education and eHealth.

1. Sonny Juma Nyeko, Samali Violet Mlay, Bosco Amerit, Boniface Abima, Judith Among, Abdallah Ibrahim Nyero, Joseph Odiya and Cosmas Ogen. (2023). The impact of electronic-electrical waste on human health and environment: A systematic literature review. Journal of Engineering and Technology Research, 15 (1), 1-16. DOI https://doi.org/10.5897/JETR2021.0726
2. Sarah Watera, Noah Mwelu, Samali V. Mlay, Joseph M. Ntayi, Moses Muhwezi. (2023). Uganda’s Antiretroviral Distribution: Sourcing Flexibility Mediates Information Technology Integration and Supply Chain Agility, International Journal of Procurement Management 18(4):1, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPM.2023.134630
3. Uzoka Faith-Michael, Mugisha Gift, Attai Kingsley, Boluwaji A. Akinnuwesi, Mlay Samali V., Zeh Peter, et al. (2022). Tackling Occupational and Nosocomial Infection using Vitex-Medical Assistant Tool. IST-Africa 2022 Conference Proceedings. Miriam Cunningham and Paul Cunningham (Eds). IST-Africa Institute and IIMC, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-905824-68-7
4. Sonny Juma Nyeko, Samali Mlay, Judith Among, Abdallah Ibrahim Nyero (2022). Towards a sustainable electronic waste management in Uganda: A stakeholder perspective. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 16 (6), 238-251. DOI: 10.5897/AJEST2021.3088. Article Number C831FE769305, ISSN 1996-0786
5. Sonny Juma Nyeko, Samali Mlay, Bosco Amerit, Abdallah Ibrahim Nyero (2021). Drivers and inhibitors of sustainable electronic waste collection and disposal behavioural intentions in a developing country. ORSEA Journal, Vol. 11(2). Accessed on https://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/orsea/issue/view/528/showToc
6. Kyeyune Robert, Ssembatya Vincent, Miiro Edward, Kasule Abdal, Samali V. Mlay, Walugembe John Baptist, Joyce Adikin. (2021). Movement Permit and Tracking System (MPTS), International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT), 10 (01)
7. Kato Ismael, Mlay V. Samali, Nantege Zuhra, Miwanda Albert, Naluwooza Ruqqaia. (2020). Mobile Technologies, Digital Financing and Access to Solar Energy in Uganda. International Journal of Technology and Management (IJTOM), 5(II), pp 1-23
8. Samali Violet Mlay & Humphrey M. Sabi (2019) A structural analysis of ICT-based intervention on reading habits in Uganda, The Information Society, DOI: 10.1080/01972243.2018.1542645
9. Sabi, H.M., Uzoka, F.M.E., Mlay, S.V. (2018). Staff perception towards cloud computing adoption at universities in a developing country, Springer Education and Information Technologies. Vol 18, No. 4, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-018-9692-8
10. Sabi, H.M., Mlay, S.V., Tsuma, C.K., & Bang, H. (2015). Conceptualizing User Preference and Trust in Western Designed Banking Software Systems in Developing Countries. Journal of Internet Banking & Commerce. ISSN 1204-5357. http://www.icommercecentral.com/open-access/conceptualizing-user-preference-and-trust-in-western-designed-banking-software-systems-in-developing-countries.php?aid= 61522
11. Mlay, S.V., Sabi, H.M., Tsuma, C.K., & Kehbuma L., (2015). Uncovering Reading Habits of University Students in Uganda: Does ICT Matter? International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, Volume 11, Issue 2, http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewarticle.php?id=1970
12. Mlay, S.V., Ngnitedem, A., Mbarika, V.W., Vegah G., Moya, M. & Balunywa, L. (2013). Global Diffusion of the Internet, the Internet in Rwanda, African Journal of Information and Communication. Vol. 1, Issue No. 13, www.wits.ac.za/files/p9sed_100268001387533866.pdf
13. Muganda-Ochara, N., Dawit, A. & Mlay, S.V. (2012). Group Think’ in Organizational Decision Making Deficiency in the Requirements Engineering Process: Towards a Crowdsourcing Model. Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2132040 and http://www.ibima.org/spain2012/papers/nixo.html
14. Mlay, S.V, Zlotnikova, I, & Watundu, S. (2012). A Quantitative Analysis of Business Process Reengineering and Organizational Resistance: The Case of Uganda, The African Journal of Information Systems: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 1. 
Available at: http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/ajis/vol5/iss1/1

1. A research grant from Research Innovation Fund (RIF) – October 2022 for a study titled, Development of Freza, a nanotechnology-based preservation solution for shelf life extension of fruits and vegetables for the local farmer, retailer and vendor in Uganda. The team comprises Dr. Abbey Mutumba, Dr. Denis Male, Dr. Samali V. Mlay, Gift Arnold Mugisha, Prof. Musa Moya.
2. A research grant from Research Innovation Fund (RIF) – October 2020 for a study titled, Towards Sustainable Electronic Waste Management in Uganda: Baseline Survey and Best Practices. The team comprises Dr. Sonny Nyeko, Dr. Samali V. Mlay, Judith Among, Joseph Odiya & Bosco Amerit (completed and published).
3. A research grant from Research Innovation Fund (RIF) Special Covid-19 call – April 2020 for a study titled, Movement Permit and Tracking System. The team comprises Dr. Robert Kyeyune, Dr. Samali V. Mlay, Eng. John B. Walugembe, Prof. Vincent Ssembatya and Dr. Abdal Kasule. (Completed and published)
4. A research grant from the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORAD-NORHED) – July, 2018 for a study titled, Information Communication Technology, Digital Financing and Access to Solar Energy in Uganda. The team comprises Dr. Samali V. Mlay, Ismael Kato, Albert Miwanda, Zuhra Nantege, and Ruqqaiya Naluwooza (completed and published).
5. A research grant from Makerere University Business School (2015-2017) for my PhD thesis titled; Theorising ICT Education and ICT Policy in Green ICT: Insights from the Belief Action Outcome Model and Accountability Theory (completed and submitted to the ICT University)
6. Travel grant from The World Academy of Science (TWAS) -Trieste, Italy (2013) – for Scientific Meetings Program to facilitate travel of key conference participants for the 5th ICT4Africa conference held in Zimbabwe.
7. Travel grant from The World Academy of Science (TWAS) -Trieste, Italy (2012) – for Scientific Meetings Program to facilitate travel of key conference participants for the 4th ICT4Africa conference held in Uganda.
8. A research grant from the Faculty of Computing and Management Science – 2011 for a study titled, A Theoretical Social Media Communication Strategy for Disaster Recovery. The team comprised Geoffrey Mayoka Kituyi, Samali V. Mlay and Edward Kabaale (completed).
9. A research grant from Makerere University Business School (2010-2011) for my Master degree thesis titled, A Quantitative Analysis of Business Process Reengineering and Organizational Resistance: The Case of Uganda (submitted and published)

I am a member of the St. Apollo Kivebulaya C.O.U, Seeta Kasangati where we do some community service such as sponsoring some students through their education.

I partnership with Watoto Child Ministries, I offer funding to orphans and disadvantaged children through child sponsorship.

I additionally contribute towards the education fund of Nabumali High School, that is used to sponsor disadvantaged students who have performed exceptionally in their PLE. This enables them access Secondary School education.

I give oversight a team that is developing a plan to train secondary school teachers on eLearning. We hope to begin the trainings in April 2024.

I also give oversight to a team promoting women in STEM. We plan to start holding seminars in 2024 and thereafter do career guidance in schools.

1. Association for Information Systems (AIS)
2. Operations Research Society of Eastern Africa (ORSEA)
3. African Society of Information Communication Technology (ASICT)
4. Association of African Business Schools (AABS)
5. Makerere University Business School Staff Association (MUBASA)

System analysis and design, Cyber Security, IS Auditing, Global Communication and Information Systems, E-Commerce, E-Business Technologies, Research Methods, Information Systems Development and Management, Management Information Systems, IT Project management, and Business Software Applications.