After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and sp...After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.展开更多
In the lush heart of Uganda’s Busoga sub-region,Isaac Imaka is charting a new course for rural development.After seven years in national media,he left the newsroom and stepped into the soil.The former reporter with t...In the lush heart of Uganda’s Busoga sub-region,Isaac Imaka is charting a new course for rural development.After seven years in national media,he left the newsroom and stepped into the soil.The former reporter with the Daily Monitor was driven by the belief that communities like his in Jinja North deserved more than chronic poverty and hand-to-mouth survival.展开更多
Background: Clinical decision support tools provide suggestions to support healthcare providers and clinicians, as they attend to patients. Clinicians use these tools to rapidly consult the evidence at the point of ca...Background: Clinical decision support tools provide suggestions to support healthcare providers and clinicians, as they attend to patients. Clinicians use these tools to rapidly consult the evidence at the point of care, a practice which has been found to reduce the time patients spend in hospitals, promote the quality of care and improve healthcare outcomes. Such tools include Medscape, VisualDx, Clinical Key, DynaMed, BMJ Best Practice and UpToDate. However, use of such tools has not yet been fully embraced in low-resource settings such as Uganda. Objective: This paper intends to collate data on the use and uptake of one such tool, UpToDate, which was provided at no cost to five medical schools in Uganda. Methods: Free access to UpToDate was granted through the IP addresses of five medical schools in Uganda in collaboration with Better Evidence at The Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Wolters Kluwer Health. Following the donation, medical librarians in the respective institutions conducted training sessions and created awareness of the tool. Usage data was aggregated, based on logins and content views, presented and analyzed using Excel tables and graphs. Results: The data shows similar trends in increased usage over the period of August 2022 to August 2023 across the five medical schools. The most common topics viewed, mode of access (using either the computer or the mobile app), total usage by institution, ratio of uses to eligible users by institution and ratio of uses to students by institution are shared. Conclusion: The study revealed that the tool was used by various user categories across the institutions with similar steady improved usage over the year. These results can inform the librarians as they encourage their respective institutions to continue using the tool to support uptake of point-of-care tools in clinical practice.展开更多
In order to promote the development of the mineral industry in their countries,Tanzania and Uganda have revised their mining acts in recent years,and the reform of the mineral rights licensing system is one of the key...In order to promote the development of the mineral industry in their countries,Tanzania and Uganda have revised their mining acts in recent years,and the reform of the mineral rights licensing system is one of the key points.This paper is intended to make a comparative analysis of the two countries’mineral rights licensing systems in terms of the main body of approval,approval time,approval information,approval conditions and application fees.Through comparison,it can be seen that the two countries focus on the role of the government in the mineral rights licensing,jurisdiction is more centralized,access system is fairer,the review is more stringent,and the provisions are clearer and more concise.On the whole,Tanzania’s mineral rights licensing system is more detailed and standardized than Uganda’s,and is more operational in practice.In addition to exploring the advantages of the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,this paper also summarizes and analyzes the shortcomings of the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,how to verify the review of information in the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,how to effectively supervise the activities after licensing,and how to continue to deepen the reform of the two countries’ministries of mines and minerals,which are responsible for the important task of strengthening the administrative capacity and improving the efficiency of the administration,is still an important issue that deserves continuous and in-depth study for the two countries.For both countries,this is still a topic that deserves continuous and in-depth research.Through the comparative analysis of the Tanzanian and Ugandan mineral rights licensing systems,this paper clearly demonstrates the similarities and differences between the two systems as well as their advantages and disadvantages,which can provide decision-making references for relevant mining investments and help investors more comprehensively assess the legal environment,policy risks and operating costs of mining development in the two countries,so as to optimize their investment strategies and reduce compliance risks.展开更多
In the context of globalization,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has transcended geographical boundaries to provide the world with Chinese philosophical principles and therapeutic methodologies,which have been welcome...In the context of globalization,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has transcended geographical boundaries to provide the world with Chinese philosophical principles and therapeutic methodologies,which have been welcomed by the people of the world.Similarly,Uganda’s indigenous medical traditions embody profound ethnomedical knowledge,creating a robust foundation for cross-cultural exchanges in phytotherapy between the two nations.The introduction of TCM to Uganda started in the 1980s,facilitated by successive Chinese medical teams dispatched under the framework of Sino-African health cooperation,and has engendered a gradual yet sustained trajectory of acceptance and integration within local healthcare systems.Empirical evidence indicates that TCM’s therapeutic efficacy,cultural adaptability,and cost-effectiveness have progressively contributed to its growing institutional recognition and community-level adoption across Uganda’s diverse demographic groups since its initial dissemination.Therapeutic approaches such as acupuncture and massage,along with the remarkable efficacy of artemisinin in combating malaria,offer local populations more options for disease prevention and health maintenance.This paper examines the historical development and current practices of TCM in Uganda,aiming to provide insights and recommendations for addressing challenges related to infectious disease control,chronic disease management,and health resource accessibility in Africa and other underdeveloped regions.Furthermore,it proposes cross-cultural implementation strategies for integrating traditional medicine into the global health governance framework,thereby contributing to the construction of a global community of health.展开更多
BACKGROUND Transition is a critical period for adolescents as they begin to assume responsibility for their own health.Similarly,the shift from pediatric to adult healthcare represents a vulnerable phase,marked by uni...BACKGROUND Transition is a critical period for adolescents as they begin to assume responsibility for their own health.Similarly,the shift from pediatric to adult healthcare represents a vulnerable phase,marked by unique challenges in adolescent health care.Despite its importance,only a few studies have explored healthcare transition among adolescents in Uganda.AIM To identify factors associated with the transition to adult human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-centered care among adolescents attending HIV/AIDS clinics in Uganda.METHODS A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 265 adolescents,randomly selected from three antiretroviral therapy(ART)clinics,using a structured questionnaire.Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted.Individuals aged 10-20 years who were actively enrolled in the ART program between January 4,2022 and January 30,2023 were recruited.The primary outcome of interest was the transition to adult care.Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed for quantitative data,while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.RESULTS The prevalence of transition to adult care was 40.6%.Most participants were male(53.6%)and fell within the 13-15 age group(35.6%).Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with transition to adult care:Age group 10-12 years[prevalence ratio(PR)=2.525,95%CI:2.121-2.944,P=0.002],Age group 13-15 years(PR=1.900,95%CI:1.196-3.416,P=0.001),successful viral load suppression(PR=1.534,95%CI:1.173-1.648,P=0.016),disclosure of HIV status to relatives(PR=5.001,95%CI:3.411-3.611,P=0.000),being prepared for transitioning(PR=5.417,95%CI:3.468-7.135,P=0.041)and having skilled pediatric caregivers(PR=3.724,95%CI:2.084-4.105,P=0.005).CONCLUSION Transition to adult care among adolescents was low.Improving transition outcomes may require strengthening individual support within the family context and integrating transition-focused care into existing specialized clinical settings to enhance the delivery of adolescent-friendly services.展开更多
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture in treating patients with insomnia from Uganda. Method Seventy-eight patients with insomnia were subjected to scalp acupuncture,ézhōngxiàn（...Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture in treating patients with insomnia from Uganda. Method Seventy-eight patients with insomnia were subjected to scalp acupuncture,ézhōngxiàn（额中线 MS 1）,épángxiàn Ⅰ（额旁1线 MS 2）,D？ngzhōngxiàn（顶中线 MS 5） and D？ngpángxiàn Ⅰ（顶旁1线 MS 8） were selected,the treatments were carried out once for every two days,and 10 days as a treatment course. The therapeu c effi cacy was observed a er treatments. Results Sixty-two cases were cured,markedly effective in 8 cases,effective in 7 cases and failed in1 case; the total eff ec ve rate was 98.72%. Conclusion scalp acupuncture has accurate therapeu c effi cacy on the pa ents with insomnia from Uganda.展开更多
The Albertine Graben in western Uganda is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic rift basin with petroleum exploration potential. A fundamental evaluation of petroleum potential of the graben is given based on field research, data proce...The Albertine Graben in western Uganda is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic rift basin with petroleum exploration potential. A fundamental evaluation of petroleum potential of the graben is given based on field research, data processing of gravity and magnetism, analysis of graben structure, geochemistry, reservoir and composition research. The basin has a double-layered framework and a large thickness of sediments. Gravity highs shown in a residual anomaly map might indicate central uplift zones. There exist at least two sets of mature or low-maturity source rocks corresponding to a certain source rock in the Cretaceous or Paleogene and Neogene strata. The graben has basement rock with potential reservoirs and Tertiary sandstone reservoirs and thus has petroleum exploration potential.展开更多
The aim of this study is to estimate and compare soil erosion,in the Mount Elgon region,eastern Uganda,during the last decade.Possible trends and changes in erosion are linked to precipitation/climate change as well a...The aim of this study is to estimate and compare soil erosion,in the Mount Elgon region,eastern Uganda,during the last decade.Possible trends and changes in erosion are linked to precipitation/climate change as well as changes in land cover.Two different versions of the Revised Universal Soil loss Equation(RUSLE)are implemented and compared,one using slope length and the other using flow accumulation to estimate the slope length and steepness factor(LS).Comparisons of the modeled soil erosion vs.field data indicate that RUSLE based on flow accumulation is preferable.The modeling is carried out for the years 2000,2006,and 2012,and is based on ASTER remotely sensed data,digital elevation models,precipitation data from the study area,as well as existing soil maps.No significant trends in estimated soil erosion are found to be present during the last decade.Over exploitation of land is probably compensated by improved agricultural management and no significant increase in precipitation.Even if there are reports of more intense and increasing amounts of rainfall in the area,this could not be verified,neither through the analysis of climate data,nor by trends in the estimated soil loss.展开更多
Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving ...Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving profitability. This study investigates the adoption of eight IPM practices including intercropping, crop rotation, two improved varieties, incorporating a ＂striga chaser＂ in sorghum production, changing planting dates, altering planting density and fertilizer use. Explanatory variables include economic factors, social factors, management factors, and institutional factors. Results were consistent across logit and ordered logit analyses. Most factors affecting adoption across all crops and technologies are economic factors, including labor availability, technology resource requirements, technology complexity, and the level of expected benefits. Social factors are generally less associated with IPM technology adoption than either market or institutional factors. Results indicate that the evaluated technologies were scale-neutral and that farmer age and education level did not affect technology adoption.展开更多
Sludge contains organic and inorganic compounds including traces of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and others. These metals restrict the use of sludge in agricult...Sludge contains organic and inorganic compounds including traces of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and others. These metals restrict the use of sludge in agriculture because their accumulation is harmful to the environment and particularly the food chain. Cadmium and lead are among the most common heavy metals found in municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge. They are capable of bioaccumulation in plant tissues like roots and leaves and are non-biodegradable and therefore they remain in the sludge which is disposed on land or used as fertilizers on farms. The presence of heavy metal pollutants serves as a great threat to soils and also makes plants grown on such soils unfit for animal and human consumption as they may have detrimental effects to animal and human life. For instance, Pb and Cd are known to be human carcinogens. This study therefore aimed to investigate the levels of Cd and Pb in the treated dry sludge from Lubigi Feacal Sludge and Wastewater treatment plant located in Kawempe division, Kampala city, Uganda so as to ascertain its safety for use on agricultural lands. Two batches of samples were collected and analyzed at Government Analytical laboratory in Wandegeya, Uganda. The acid digested sludge samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The average concentrations of Pb found in collected sludge samples, batch 1 (11.912 mg/kg dm) and batch 2 (5.304 mg/kg dm) were far below the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) maximum permissible concentration (840 mg/kg) for any land application. Cadmium was not detected in all the sludge samples collected;there is an implication that it is either completely absent in the sludge generated by the plant or present but far below detectable levels. The sludge generated from Lubigi fecal sludge and wastewater treatment plant is therefore safe for application on agricultural lands as far as Pb and Cd concentrations are concerned.展开更多
Water resources of a country constitute one of its vital assets that significantly contribute to the socio-economic development and poverty eradication. However, this resource is unevenly distributed in both time and ...Water resources of a country constitute one of its vital assets that significantly contribute to the socio-economic development and poverty eradication. However, this resource is unevenly distributed in both time and space. The major source of water for these resources is direct rainfall, which is recently experiencing variability that threatens the distribution of resources and water availability in Uganda. The annual rainfall received in Uganda varies from 500 mm to 2800 mm, with an average of 1180 mm received in two main seasons. The spatial distribution of rainfall has resulted into a network of great rivers and lakes that possess big potential for development. These resources are being developed and depleted at a fast rate, a situation that requires assessment to establish present status of water resources in the country. The paper reviews the characteristics, availability, demand and importance of present day water resources in Uganda as well as describing the various issues, challenges and management of water resources of the country.展开更多
An understanding of the influence of contractor monitoring on performance of road infrastructural projects in Uganda provided an impetus for this study. The objectives of the study were to: assess the relationship bet...An understanding of the influence of contractor monitoring on performance of road infrastructural projects in Uganda provided an impetus for this study. The objectives of the study were to: assess the relationship between contractors monitoring and performance of national road infrastructure projects and the relationship between contractor monitoring components and performance of national road infrastructure projects in Uganda. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting the procurement professionals, engineers and simple random sampling was adopted in selecting private consultants, members of parliament and respondents from the civil society organizations. Data for this study were collected using a closed ended questionnaire and interviews. Some of the major finding from this study include: weak procurement rules which lead to awarding road projects to incompetent contractors;contractor monitoring being handled by unqualified, incompetent and inexperienced professionals;lack of contractors and contract supervisors appraisal system;delay of contractors payments which affects timelines in services delivery;lack of a strong internal project monitoring and evaluation mechanism at the Uganda National Roads Agency (UNRA). The research therefore recommends the establishment of an Independent Public Infrastructure Development and Monitoring Unit by government and adoption of systems that appraise both contractors and contract supervisors with clear disciplinary actions for unsatisfactory performance by the UNRA.展开更多
This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly inter...This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly interviewed. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also held with community elders and women. Responses were analyzed both descriptively and qualitatively. Findings indicated that 99% of the households used firewood for cooking with a per capita consumption of 542.32 Kilograms. Commonly used tree species included Combretnum molle (42.7%) and Acacia polyacantha willd (18.2%). Over 78% of the households have a preference for acacia tree species for firewood. In particular, Acacia polyacantha willd (60.3%), Acacia hockii (16.9%) and Combretum collinum (9.6%) were the most preferred tree species. The scarcity of firewood supply was eminent from the average distance (2 ± 7 Km) traveled by collectors in search of them. Firewood collectors spent 1 to 10 hours with an average of 3 hours weekly in firewood collection activities. This resulted in per annum estimated opportunity cost of Shillings 432,000 (US 232 dollars) for those who collected on weekly basis and Shillings 1,080,000 shillings (US 580 dollars) for those who collected on daily basis. The frequency of collection decreased as distance increased among 89% of the households. Minority of households (1%) have resorted to deliberately planting trees on their own farms to ease problems of firewood shortage, and to modification of biomass stove so as to use less firewood. Households in their endeavour to circumvent the problem of continued scarcity have resorted to poorer quality tree/bushes for firewood (71.2%), alongside other coping strategies such as cooking meals once a day, avoidance of cooking some food types (70%), and using crop residues as fuel source (60%). There is a need for scaling-up on-farm tree planting as well as the use of improved biomass cook stoves in the region.展开更多
<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Climate change and variability are a reality and have had marked e...<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Climate change and variability are a reality and have had marked effects on both human and ecological systems. Adaptation to such effects either directly or indirectly is viewed as a novel way of reducing the spread of the associated risks. The study was conducted in Rubanda District with a general aim of evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation measures to climate variability used </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">by smallholder Irish potatoes farmers. Specifically, we sought to appraise</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> small</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">holder Irish potato farmers’ perceptions about the effectiveness of climate variability adaptation measures and implications on Irish potato productivity. We undertook a cross-sectional study to collect data from total of 197 farmers using a structured questionnaire. Other participatory methods such as focus group discussions and key informant interview were also used to complement the household survey. Data w</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:'Minion Pro Capt','serif';"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> analyzed using SPSS Version 23 to generate descriptive statistics as well as relationships between the adaptation measures and the productivity of the Irish potatoes using a Cobb-Douglas production function. The Cobb-Douglas model revealed that the use of fertilizers was significantly and positively associated with productivity of Irish potato (</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">P </span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">< 0.001). Furthermore, Smallholder Irish potato farmers perceived the use of technology, terracing, early planting and application of fertilizers as the most effective climate variability adaptation measures. The study recommends that measures that are cost-effective, efficient and coherent should be promoted to offset the impacts of climate variability which would include the adoption of improved potato varieties and use of fertilizers with proper management of erosion. Off-season planting of Irish potatoes in the wetlands should be discouraged by the local administration and the National Environment Management Authority. This calls for a collective action involving the agricultural practitioners and inline civil society organizations to ensure that farmers have access to such inputs.</span></span></span></span> </p>展开更多
This paper examines the factors that Uganda’s households consider when making fuel choices for cooking and investigates the key drivers of fuel choice. The study adopts a quantitative cross sectional research design....This paper examines the factors that Uganda’s households consider when making fuel choices for cooking and investigates the key drivers of fuel choice. The study adopts a quantitative cross sectional research design. The dependent variable of the empirical model is a qualitative response variable which defines three mutually exclusive and highly differentiated discrete choices for cooking fuels, namely: the traditional fuel (firewood), the transitional fuel (charcoal), and the modern (LPG & electricity). Results from the study show that the most important drivers of fuel choice for cooking in Uganda’s households are: household income, age of household head, gender of household head, marital status, education levels of household head and location of a household. Results also reveal high dependency of firewood as cooking energy source among households in Uganda.展开更多
This paper focuses on the relationship between firm risk profile, agency incentives and corporate performance using correlation study and cross-sectional approach. We conceptualise firm risk profile using the balanced...This paper focuses on the relationship between firm risk profile, agency incentives and corporate performance using correlation study and cross-sectional approach. We conceptualise firm risk profile using the balanced score card and differ from previous studies, on the above variables, by capturing the perceptual sets of strategic leadership of Ugandan firms who are members of corporate governance of Uganda. We post a significant negative relationship between firm risk profile and corporate performance, a significant negative relationship between firm risk profile and agency incentives and a positive relationship between agency incentives and corporate performance By employing Joseph and Scott （2006）＇s utilization of the balanced score card to identify the four forms of firm risk （namely, financial, customer, internal and learning and growth risks）, our results support the application of agency theory as a relevant theoretical framework for dealing with managers who are risk averse.展开更多
Kigezi highlands currently experiences changes in precipitation and temperature which modify the evaporation and soil moisture storage leading to alterations in runoff and other components of hydrological systems. Ext...Kigezi highlands currently experiences changes in precipitation and temperature which modify the evaporation and soil moisture storage leading to alterations in runoff and other components of hydrological systems. Extreme events, like floods and droughts, are more intense and frequent. Furthermore heavy unpredictable rainfall has become frequent in the area, causing soil erosion and floods that destroy crops. Soil erosion is particularly a pressing challenge due to steep-sided hills leading to deterioration of soil nutrients including soil fertility. The unpredictable rains and droughts are attributed to climate change and variability. Consequently, climate change and variability have caused a significant impact on soil nutrients which have affected the agricultural productivity in the area. This paper presents findings of empirical study which explored the climate variability and soil nutrient status along altitudinal gradient. The paper particularly addresses key questions of: land management practices in the study area, nutrient availability and their effects on productivity of selected crops along altitudinal gradient in changing climate and variability. Independent variables such as topographic sequence along altitudinal gradient were evaluated against dependent variables such as yield harvests of selected grown crops and soil nutrients. Samples for crop yields were collected along transect of 0.5 kilometer using a quadrant of 4 × 4 m<sup>2</sup> along attitudinal gradient. Soil samples were taken from selected plots at 0-20cm soil depth for nutrient analysis. Analysis of physical and chemical soil parameters was carried out on soil samples and these include: soil pH, soil organic content, total nitrogen, available soil phosphorous and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na). The study showed that middle parts of the transects had the highest concentration of most soil nutrients, probably because the middle parts could have been a deposition centre for some organic matter from the upper parts of the hills, and lower lying areas were being affected by floods that affects the decomposition of organic matter which is the main source of nutrients. Similarly, the middle parts of the study were the most fertile due to the high concentration of soil nutrient compositions. This indicates that crop yields were significantly affected by availability of soil nutrients along same gradient, attributable to the severity in soil erosion, nutrients leaching and farming practices.展开更多
The study evaluated the productivity and energy balance of the harvesting and the extraction of wood in plantation of exotic tree species, i.e., Pinus patula （Schiede ex Schlectendahl et Chamisso） and Cupressus lusi...The study evaluated the productivity and energy balance of the harvesting and the extraction of wood in plantation of exotic tree species, i.e., Pinus patula （Schiede ex Schlectendahl et Chamisso） and Cupressus lusitanica （Mill.）. The harvesting and extraction operations concerned clear-cut felling on two different types of terrain （gentle and steep terrain） and two levels of prun- ing. The results show that cutting is not affected by the terrain gradient whereas the pruning condition shows a significant effect on the delimbing operation. The productivity of cutting is evaluated at 28.1 m3.d-1 for unpruned trees and at 30.2 m3.d t for pruned trees. For the extraction phase, rolling was significantly affected by terrain conditions. On steep terrain, the gross productivity can be evaluated at 22.5 m3.d 1 for an extraction distance of 40 m, while for the same distance on gentle terrain the productivity decreases to 14.1 m3.d~. As a result, the steep terrain condition showed higher energy efficiency, suggesting that it is the more efficient system of extraction. The productivity model and the energy balance resulting from the study provide a better understanding of the variables af- fecting motor-manual cutting and rolling extraction in exotic plantations in Uganda.展开更多
In this study, normal ranges for hematology and serum biochemistry in children aged 1 to 5 years inUgandawere determined. By a cross-sectional study, 1168 children from Iganga, a prospective site for clinical trials i...In this study, normal ranges for hematology and serum biochemistry in children aged 1 to 5 years inUgandawere determined. By a cross-sectional study, 1168 children from Iganga, a prospective site for clinical trials in Uganda, were screened. From 1168 households, 460 children were selected for enrollment, while 600 (58%) were excluded because of either a history of fever in the previous 24 hours, presence of asexual malaria parasites in the peripheral blood or presence of fever. Accordingly, 460 children (39.4%) of median age = 3 years were enrolled in the baseline study. While the lower limits of hemoglobin, hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume and platelet counts for the Ugandan children were found to be less than conventional reference values of Caucasisan children, the white blood cell count reference values were higher than the international intervals. On the other hand, the upper limits of the reference intervals for serum transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, total protein and albumin in sera of the Ugandan children were higher than the corresponding values for a Caucasian pediatric population. This study showed that, if hematology test results of the Ugandan children were assessed against “imported” international reference values, up to 44.6% of the study participants would have been excluded from clinical trials or would have been reported as adverse events in such trials. The present study was not only the first report of serum biochemistry reference ranges for children aged one to five years in Uganda but also one of very few such studies in Africa.展开更多
文摘After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.
文摘In the lush heart of Uganda’s Busoga sub-region,Isaac Imaka is charting a new course for rural development.After seven years in national media,he left the newsroom and stepped into the soil.The former reporter with the Daily Monitor was driven by the belief that communities like his in Jinja North deserved more than chronic poverty and hand-to-mouth survival.
文摘Background: Clinical decision support tools provide suggestions to support healthcare providers and clinicians, as they attend to patients. Clinicians use these tools to rapidly consult the evidence at the point of care, a practice which has been found to reduce the time patients spend in hospitals, promote the quality of care and improve healthcare outcomes. Such tools include Medscape, VisualDx, Clinical Key, DynaMed, BMJ Best Practice and UpToDate. However, use of such tools has not yet been fully embraced in low-resource settings such as Uganda. Objective: This paper intends to collate data on the use and uptake of one such tool, UpToDate, which was provided at no cost to five medical schools in Uganda. Methods: Free access to UpToDate was granted through the IP addresses of five medical schools in Uganda in collaboration with Better Evidence at The Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Wolters Kluwer Health. Following the donation, medical librarians in the respective institutions conducted training sessions and created awareness of the tool. Usage data was aggregated, based on logins and content views, presented and analyzed using Excel tables and graphs. Results: The data shows similar trends in increased usage over the period of August 2022 to August 2023 across the five medical schools. The most common topics viewed, mode of access (using either the computer or the mobile app), total usage by institution, ratio of uses to eligible users by institution and ratio of uses to students by institution are shared. Conclusion: The study revealed that the tool was used by various user categories across the institutions with similar steady improved usage over the year. These results can inform the librarians as they encourage their respective institutions to continue using the tool to support uptake of point-of-care tools in clinical practice.
基金Shenzhen Polytechnic University’s Key Scientific Research Project,The Field Exploitation of Shenzhen Enterprises’Investment in Africa and the Prevention and Control of Legal Risks(Project No.:6024310006S)。
文摘In order to promote the development of the mineral industry in their countries,Tanzania and Uganda have revised their mining acts in recent years,and the reform of the mineral rights licensing system is one of the key points.This paper is intended to make a comparative analysis of the two countries’mineral rights licensing systems in terms of the main body of approval,approval time,approval information,approval conditions and application fees.Through comparison,it can be seen that the two countries focus on the role of the government in the mineral rights licensing,jurisdiction is more centralized,access system is fairer,the review is more stringent,and the provisions are clearer and more concise.On the whole,Tanzania’s mineral rights licensing system is more detailed and standardized than Uganda’s,and is more operational in practice.In addition to exploring the advantages of the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,this paper also summarizes and analyzes the shortcomings of the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,how to verify the review of information in the two countries’mineral rights licensing system,how to effectively supervise the activities after licensing,and how to continue to deepen the reform of the two countries’ministries of mines and minerals,which are responsible for the important task of strengthening the administrative capacity and improving the efficiency of the administration,is still an important issue that deserves continuous and in-depth study for the two countries.For both countries,this is still a topic that deserves continuous and in-depth research.Through the comparative analysis of the Tanzanian and Ugandan mineral rights licensing systems,this paper clearly demonstrates the similarities and differences between the two systems as well as their advantages and disadvantages,which can provide decision-making references for relevant mining investments and help investors more comprehensively assess the legal environment,policy risks and operating costs of mining development in the two countries,so as to optimize their investment strategies and reduce compliance risks.
基金financed by the grants from Zhejiang Province’s“14th Five-Year Plan”for Higher Education(No.JGBA2024776)Research Project of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University’s Provincial Key Cultivation Base for Philosophy and Social Sciences in 2024(No.2024JDYB07)the second batch of approved projects of the Zhejiang Cultural Research Project(No.23WH27ZD).
文摘In the context of globalization,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has transcended geographical boundaries to provide the world with Chinese philosophical principles and therapeutic methodologies,which have been welcomed by the people of the world.Similarly,Uganda’s indigenous medical traditions embody profound ethnomedical knowledge,creating a robust foundation for cross-cultural exchanges in phytotherapy between the two nations.The introduction of TCM to Uganda started in the 1980s,facilitated by successive Chinese medical teams dispatched under the framework of Sino-African health cooperation,and has engendered a gradual yet sustained trajectory of acceptance and integration within local healthcare systems.Empirical evidence indicates that TCM’s therapeutic efficacy,cultural adaptability,and cost-effectiveness have progressively contributed to its growing institutional recognition and community-level adoption across Uganda’s diverse demographic groups since its initial dissemination.Therapeutic approaches such as acupuncture and massage,along with the remarkable efficacy of artemisinin in combating malaria,offer local populations more options for disease prevention and health maintenance.This paper examines the historical development and current practices of TCM in Uganda,aiming to provide insights and recommendations for addressing challenges related to infectious disease control,chronic disease management,and health resource accessibility in Africa and other underdeveloped regions.Furthermore,it proposes cross-cultural implementation strategies for integrating traditional medicine into the global health governance framework,thereby contributing to the construction of a global community of health.
文摘BACKGROUND Transition is a critical period for adolescents as they begin to assume responsibility for their own health.Similarly,the shift from pediatric to adult healthcare represents a vulnerable phase,marked by unique challenges in adolescent health care.Despite its importance,only a few studies have explored healthcare transition among adolescents in Uganda.AIM To identify factors associated with the transition to adult human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-centered care among adolescents attending HIV/AIDS clinics in Uganda.METHODS A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 265 adolescents,randomly selected from three antiretroviral therapy(ART)clinics,using a structured questionnaire.Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted.Individuals aged 10-20 years who were actively enrolled in the ART program between January 4,2022 and January 30,2023 were recruited.The primary outcome of interest was the transition to adult care.Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed for quantitative data,while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.RESULTS The prevalence of transition to adult care was 40.6%.Most participants were male(53.6%)and fell within the 13-15 age group(35.6%).Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with transition to adult care:Age group 10-12 years[prevalence ratio(PR)=2.525,95%CI:2.121-2.944,P=0.002],Age group 13-15 years(PR=1.900,95%CI:1.196-3.416,P=0.001),successful viral load suppression(PR=1.534,95%CI:1.173-1.648,P=0.016),disclosure of HIV status to relatives(PR=5.001,95%CI:3.411-3.611,P=0.000),being prepared for transitioning(PR=5.417,95%CI:3.468-7.135,P=0.041)and having skilled pediatric caregivers(PR=3.724,95%CI:2.084-4.105,P=0.005).CONCLUSION Transition to adult care among adolescents was low.Improving transition outcomes may require strengthening individual support within the family context and integrating transition-focused care into existing specialized clinical settings to enhance the delivery of adolescent-friendly services.
文摘Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture in treating patients with insomnia from Uganda. Method Seventy-eight patients with insomnia were subjected to scalp acupuncture,ézhōngxiàn（额中线 MS 1）,épángxiàn Ⅰ（额旁1线 MS 2）,D？ngzhōngxiàn（顶中线 MS 5） and D？ngpángxiàn Ⅰ（顶旁1线 MS 8） were selected,the treatments were carried out once for every two days,and 10 days as a treatment course. The therapeu c effi cacy was observed a er treatments. Results Sixty-two cases were cured,markedly effective in 8 cases,effective in 7 cases and failed in1 case; the total eff ec ve rate was 98.72%. Conclusion scalp acupuncture has accurate therapeu c effi cacy on the pa ents with insomnia from Uganda.
文摘The Albertine Graben in western Uganda is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic rift basin with petroleum exploration potential. A fundamental evaluation of petroleum potential of the graben is given based on field research, data processing of gravity and magnetism, analysis of graben structure, geochemistry, reservoir and composition research. The basin has a double-layered framework and a large thickness of sediments. Gravity highs shown in a residual anomaly map might indicate central uplift zones. There exist at least two sets of mature or low-maturity source rocks corresponding to a certain source rock in the Cretaceous or Paleogene and Neogene strata. The graben has basement rock with potential reservoirs and Tertiary sandstone reservoirs and thus has petroleum exploration potential.
文摘The aim of this study is to estimate and compare soil erosion,in the Mount Elgon region,eastern Uganda,during the last decade.Possible trends and changes in erosion are linked to precipitation/climate change as well as changes in land cover.Two different versions of the Revised Universal Soil loss Equation(RUSLE)are implemented and compared,one using slope length and the other using flow accumulation to estimate the slope length and steepness factor(LS).Comparisons of the modeled soil erosion vs.field data indicate that RUSLE based on flow accumulation is preferable.The modeling is carried out for the years 2000,2006,and 2012,and is based on ASTER remotely sensed data,digital elevation models,precipitation data from the study area,as well as existing soil maps.No significant trends in estimated soil erosion are found to be present during the last decade.Over exploitation of land is probably compensated by improved agricultural management and no significant increase in precipitation.Even if there are reports of more intense and increasing amounts of rainfall in the area,this could not be verified,neither through the analysis of climate data,nor by trends in the estimated soil loss.
文摘Integrated Pest Management （IPM） technologies can reduce pest damage to crops by emphasizing non-chemical control methods thereby reducing potential negative effects of chemicals on the environment while preserving profitability. This study investigates the adoption of eight IPM practices including intercropping, crop rotation, two improved varieties, incorporating a ＂striga chaser＂ in sorghum production, changing planting dates, altering planting density and fertilizer use. Explanatory variables include economic factors, social factors, management factors, and institutional factors. Results were consistent across logit and ordered logit analyses. Most factors affecting adoption across all crops and technologies are economic factors, including labor availability, technology resource requirements, technology complexity, and the level of expected benefits. Social factors are generally less associated with IPM technology adoption than either market or institutional factors. Results indicate that the evaluated technologies were scale-neutral and that farmer age and education level did not affect technology adoption.
文摘Sludge contains organic and inorganic compounds including traces of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and others. These metals restrict the use of sludge in agriculture because their accumulation is harmful to the environment and particularly the food chain. Cadmium and lead are among the most common heavy metals found in municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge. They are capable of bioaccumulation in plant tissues like roots and leaves and are non-biodegradable and therefore they remain in the sludge which is disposed on land or used as fertilizers on farms. The presence of heavy metal pollutants serves as a great threat to soils and also makes plants grown on such soils unfit for animal and human consumption as they may have detrimental effects to animal and human life. For instance, Pb and Cd are known to be human carcinogens. This study therefore aimed to investigate the levels of Cd and Pb in the treated dry sludge from Lubigi Feacal Sludge and Wastewater treatment plant located in Kawempe division, Kampala city, Uganda so as to ascertain its safety for use on agricultural lands. Two batches of samples were collected and analyzed at Government Analytical laboratory in Wandegeya, Uganda. The acid digested sludge samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The average concentrations of Pb found in collected sludge samples, batch 1 (11.912 mg/kg dm) and batch 2 (5.304 mg/kg dm) were far below the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) maximum permissible concentration (840 mg/kg) for any land application. Cadmium was not detected in all the sludge samples collected;there is an implication that it is either completely absent in the sludge generated by the plant or present but far below detectable levels. The sludge generated from Lubigi fecal sludge and wastewater treatment plant is therefore safe for application on agricultural lands as far as Pb and Cd concentrations are concerned.
文摘Water resources of a country constitute one of its vital assets that significantly contribute to the socio-economic development and poverty eradication. However, this resource is unevenly distributed in both time and space. The major source of water for these resources is direct rainfall, which is recently experiencing variability that threatens the distribution of resources and water availability in Uganda. The annual rainfall received in Uganda varies from 500 mm to 2800 mm, with an average of 1180 mm received in two main seasons. The spatial distribution of rainfall has resulted into a network of great rivers and lakes that possess big potential for development. These resources are being developed and depleted at a fast rate, a situation that requires assessment to establish present status of water resources in the country. The paper reviews the characteristics, availability, demand and importance of present day water resources in Uganda as well as describing the various issues, challenges and management of water resources of the country.
文摘An understanding of the influence of contractor monitoring on performance of road infrastructural projects in Uganda provided an impetus for this study. The objectives of the study were to: assess the relationship between contractors monitoring and performance of national road infrastructure projects and the relationship between contractor monitoring components and performance of national road infrastructure projects in Uganda. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting the procurement professionals, engineers and simple random sampling was adopted in selecting private consultants, members of parliament and respondents from the civil society organizations. Data for this study were collected using a closed ended questionnaire and interviews. Some of the major finding from this study include: weak procurement rules which lead to awarding road projects to incompetent contractors;contractor monitoring being handled by unqualified, incompetent and inexperienced professionals;lack of contractors and contract supervisors appraisal system;delay of contractors payments which affects timelines in services delivery;lack of a strong internal project monitoring and evaluation mechanism at the Uganda National Roads Agency (UNRA). The research therefore recommends the establishment of an Independent Public Infrastructure Development and Monitoring Unit by government and adoption of systems that appraise both contractors and contract supervisors with clear disciplinary actions for unsatisfactory performance by the UNRA.
文摘This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly interviewed. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also held with community elders and women. Responses were analyzed both descriptively and qualitatively. Findings indicated that 99% of the households used firewood for cooking with a per capita consumption of 542.32 Kilograms. Commonly used tree species included Combretnum molle (42.7%) and Acacia polyacantha willd (18.2%). Over 78% of the households have a preference for acacia tree species for firewood. In particular, Acacia polyacantha willd (60.3%), Acacia hockii (16.9%) and Combretum collinum (9.6%) were the most preferred tree species. The scarcity of firewood supply was eminent from the average distance (2 ± 7 Km) traveled by collectors in search of them. Firewood collectors spent 1 to 10 hours with an average of 3 hours weekly in firewood collection activities. This resulted in per annum estimated opportunity cost of Shillings 432,000 (US 232 dollars) for those who collected on weekly basis and Shillings 1,080,000 shillings (US 580 dollars) for those who collected on daily basis. The frequency of collection decreased as distance increased among 89% of the households. Minority of households (1%) have resorted to deliberately planting trees on their own farms to ease problems of firewood shortage, and to modification of biomass stove so as to use less firewood. Households in their endeavour to circumvent the problem of continued scarcity have resorted to poorer quality tree/bushes for firewood (71.2%), alongside other coping strategies such as cooking meals once a day, avoidance of cooking some food types (70%), and using crop residues as fuel source (60%). There is a need for scaling-up on-farm tree planting as well as the use of improved biomass cook stoves in the region.
文摘<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Climate change and variability are a reality and have had marked effects on both human and ecological systems. Adaptation to such effects either directly or indirectly is viewed as a novel way of reducing the spread of the associated risks. The study was conducted in Rubanda District with a general aim of evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation measures to climate variability used </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">by smallholder Irish potatoes farmers. Specifically, we sought to appraise</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> small</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">holder Irish potato farmers’ perceptions about the effectiveness of climate variability adaptation measures and implications on Irish potato productivity. We undertook a cross-sectional study to collect data from total of 197 farmers using a structured questionnaire. Other participatory methods such as focus group discussions and key informant interview were also used to complement the household survey. Data w</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:'Minion Pro Capt','serif';"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> analyzed using SPSS Version 23 to generate descriptive statistics as well as relationships between the adaptation measures and the productivity of the Irish potatoes using a Cobb-Douglas production function. The Cobb-Douglas model revealed that the use of fertilizers was significantly and positively associated with productivity of Irish potato (</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">P </span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">< 0.001). Furthermore, Smallholder Irish potato farmers perceived the use of technology, terracing, early planting and application of fertilizers as the most effective climate variability adaptation measures. The study recommends that measures that are cost-effective, efficient and coherent should be promoted to offset the impacts of climate variability which would include the adoption of improved potato varieties and use of fertilizers with proper management of erosion. Off-season planting of Irish potatoes in the wetlands should be discouraged by the local administration and the National Environment Management Authority. This calls for a collective action involving the agricultural practitioners and inline civil society organizations to ensure that farmers have access to such inputs.</span></span></span></span> </p>
文摘This paper examines the factors that Uganda’s households consider when making fuel choices for cooking and investigates the key drivers of fuel choice. The study adopts a quantitative cross sectional research design. The dependent variable of the empirical model is a qualitative response variable which defines three mutually exclusive and highly differentiated discrete choices for cooking fuels, namely: the traditional fuel (firewood), the transitional fuel (charcoal), and the modern (LPG & electricity). Results from the study show that the most important drivers of fuel choice for cooking in Uganda’s households are: household income, age of household head, gender of household head, marital status, education levels of household head and location of a household. Results also reveal high dependency of firewood as cooking energy source among households in Uganda.
文摘This paper focuses on the relationship between firm risk profile, agency incentives and corporate performance using correlation study and cross-sectional approach. We conceptualise firm risk profile using the balanced score card and differ from previous studies, on the above variables, by capturing the perceptual sets of strategic leadership of Ugandan firms who are members of corporate governance of Uganda. We post a significant negative relationship between firm risk profile and corporate performance, a significant negative relationship between firm risk profile and agency incentives and a positive relationship between agency incentives and corporate performance By employing Joseph and Scott （2006）＇s utilization of the balanced score card to identify the four forms of firm risk （namely, financial, customer, internal and learning and growth risks）, our results support the application of agency theory as a relevant theoretical framework for dealing with managers who are risk averse.
文摘Kigezi highlands currently experiences changes in precipitation and temperature which modify the evaporation and soil moisture storage leading to alterations in runoff and other components of hydrological systems. Extreme events, like floods and droughts, are more intense and frequent. Furthermore heavy unpredictable rainfall has become frequent in the area, causing soil erosion and floods that destroy crops. Soil erosion is particularly a pressing challenge due to steep-sided hills leading to deterioration of soil nutrients including soil fertility. The unpredictable rains and droughts are attributed to climate change and variability. Consequently, climate change and variability have caused a significant impact on soil nutrients which have affected the agricultural productivity in the area. This paper presents findings of empirical study which explored the climate variability and soil nutrient status along altitudinal gradient. The paper particularly addresses key questions of: land management practices in the study area, nutrient availability and their effects on productivity of selected crops along altitudinal gradient in changing climate and variability. Independent variables such as topographic sequence along altitudinal gradient were evaluated against dependent variables such as yield harvests of selected grown crops and soil nutrients. Samples for crop yields were collected along transect of 0.5 kilometer using a quadrant of 4 × 4 m<sup>2</sup> along attitudinal gradient. Soil samples were taken from selected plots at 0-20cm soil depth for nutrient analysis. Analysis of physical and chemical soil parameters was carried out on soil samples and these include: soil pH, soil organic content, total nitrogen, available soil phosphorous and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na). The study showed that middle parts of the transects had the highest concentration of most soil nutrients, probably because the middle parts could have been a deposition centre for some organic matter from the upper parts of the hills, and lower lying areas were being affected by floods that affects the decomposition of organic matter which is the main source of nutrients. Similarly, the middle parts of the study were the most fertile due to the high concentration of soil nutrient compositions. This indicates that crop yields were significantly affected by availability of soil nutrients along same gradient, attributable to the severity in soil erosion, nutrients leaching and farming practices.
文摘The study evaluated the productivity and energy balance of the harvesting and the extraction of wood in plantation of exotic tree species, i.e., Pinus patula （Schiede ex Schlectendahl et Chamisso） and Cupressus lusitanica （Mill.）. The harvesting and extraction operations concerned clear-cut felling on two different types of terrain （gentle and steep terrain） and two levels of prun- ing. The results show that cutting is not affected by the terrain gradient whereas the pruning condition shows a significant effect on the delimbing operation. The productivity of cutting is evaluated at 28.1 m3.d-1 for unpruned trees and at 30.2 m3.d t for pruned trees. For the extraction phase, rolling was significantly affected by terrain conditions. On steep terrain, the gross productivity can be evaluated at 22.5 m3.d 1 for an extraction distance of 40 m, while for the same distance on gentle terrain the productivity decreases to 14.1 m3.d~. As a result, the steep terrain condition showed higher energy efficiency, suggesting that it is the more efficient system of extraction. The productivity model and the energy balance resulting from the study provide a better understanding of the variables af- fecting motor-manual cutting and rolling extraction in exotic plantations in Uganda.
文摘In this study, normal ranges for hematology and serum biochemistry in children aged 1 to 5 years inUgandawere determined. By a cross-sectional study, 1168 children from Iganga, a prospective site for clinical trials in Uganda, were screened. From 1168 households, 460 children were selected for enrollment, while 600 (58%) were excluded because of either a history of fever in the previous 24 hours, presence of asexual malaria parasites in the peripheral blood or presence of fever. Accordingly, 460 children (39.4%) of median age = 3 years were enrolled in the baseline study. While the lower limits of hemoglobin, hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume and platelet counts for the Ugandan children were found to be less than conventional reference values of Caucasisan children, the white blood cell count reference values were higher than the international intervals. On the other hand, the upper limits of the reference intervals for serum transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, total protein and albumin in sera of the Ugandan children were higher than the corresponding values for a Caucasian pediatric population. This study showed that, if hematology test results of the Ugandan children were assessed against “imported” international reference values, up to 44.6% of the study participants would have been excluded from clinical trials or would have been reported as adverse events in such trials. The present study was not only the first report of serum biochemistry reference ranges for children aged one to five years in Uganda but also one of very few such studies in Africa.
